The National Exit Test (NExT) is set to take place next year, with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences expected to conduct the exam, according to official sources. The NExT will serve as a common qualifying final year MBBS exam, a licentiate exam for modern medicine practice, a screening exam for foreign medical graduates and also for merit-based admission to postgraduate courses.
The NMC Act has detailed that the NExT will take place in 2023, and will be a final year exam for MBBS students. It will be extended until September 2024 for those who qualify.
This means that the NExT will be a single exam that students must pass to become licensed practitioners of modern medicine. For foreign medical graduates, it will be the screening test that they must pass to be able to practice in India. For students who want to pursue postgraduate medical courses, the NExT will serve as an entrance examination.
The NExT exam will streamline the examination process for MBBS students, and those who graduate with a degree from a medical university will have a level playing field when it comes to licensing. Students will also benefit from having only one examination, which will make the process simpler and quicker.
Overall, the introduction of the NExT exam is a positive step towards providing better and more efficient medical education in India. It is hoped that this will lead to more doctors being produced and better healthcare services being provided to the populace.
