The National Exit Test (NEXT) is a licentiate and national medical postgraduate exam that is mandatory for MBBS aspirants to pass in order to get a “Dr” tag with their name. It was introduced by the central government of India in the National Medical Commission Bill 2019. The NEXT exam is scheduled to be implemented in August 2025 and will replace the FMGE Exam as well as the NEET-PG Exam.

The NEXT exam will be conducted in two steps:

• Step 1: This will be a screening test for all final year MBBS students. It will be a multiple-choice question (MCQ) based exam and will assess the student’s knowledge of basic medical sciences.
• Step 2: This will be a comprehensive exam for students who clear Step 1. It will be a combination of MCQs, case studies, and practical exams. It will assess the student’s clinical skills and knowledge.

The NEXT exam will be conducted by the National Medical Commission (NMC). The syllabus for the exam will be based on the National Medical Education Standards (NMEs) developed by the NMC.

The NEXT exam is a major reform in the medical education system in India. It is expected to improve the quality of medical education and ensure that only competent doctors are allowed to practice medicine.

Here are some of the key features of the NEXT exam:

• It is a national level exam, which means that all final year MBBS students from all over India will be eligible to take the exam.
• It is a two-step exam, which will ensure that only the best students are able to clear the exam and become eligible to practice medicine.
• The syllabus for the exam will be based on the NMES, which are the latest and most comprehensive medical education standards in India.
• The exam will be conducted by the NMC, which is the highest medical education body in India.

The NEXT exam is a major step towards improving the quality of medical education in India. It is expected to make a significant difference in the way medical education is imparted in India.