Archive · 28 Aug 2026
NBEMS Announces October FMGE, Three Annual Exams From 2027
The FMGE is a test that foreign medical graduates must pass.
NBEMS plans to hold another test by the end of October 2026.
The exact date and application details have not been announced yet.
From 2027, the test is expected to happen three times each year.
The planned questions will mostly be easy or moderate, with fewer difficult questions.
The exam fee is expected to become lower.
Students will also be able to see more information about their answers and marks.
They will get a little extra time for biometric attendance, and test centres should receive improvements.
These changes followed a student protest about the June 2026 examination, which was later called off.
NBEMS plans to conduct an additional FMGE by the end of October 2026, though the date and application details are pending.
FMGE is expected to be held three times annually from 2027, in December/January, April/May and August/September.
The proposed question pattern contains 30% low-difficulty, 50% moderate-difficulty and 20% difficult questions.
Fees are expected to fall, while candidate portals will display question IDs, answer IDs, responses and marks.
Candidates will receive up to three extra minutes per shift for biometric attendance, and exam-centre facilities are to be improved.
- Who
- The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences, foreign medical graduates and representatives of the All India Medical Student Association, Foreign Medical Student Wing.
- What
- NBEMS announced an additional FMGE by October 2026 and proposed changes to exam frequency, question difficulty, fees, transparency and examination logistics.
- When
- The additional examination is planned by the end of October 2026; three annual examinations are expected from 2027.
- Where
- The FMGE is held at examination centres, while a related case is pending before the Delhi High Court.
- Why
- The measures followed student concerns and protests after the June 2026 FMGE, including complaints about difficulty, video-based questions, centre facilities and transparency.
Student Concerns
NBEMS Measures
Additional opportunities
Student Concerns
AIMSA-FMSW protested after the June 2026 examination and sought relief and earlier opportunities for affected foreign medical graduates.
NBEMS Measures
NBEMS announced an additional examination by the end of October 2026 and expects to hold the FMGE three times annually from 2027.
Difficulty and fairness
Student Concerns
Students raised concerns about the perceived difficulty of the June paper and the inclusion of video-based questions.
NBEMS Measures
NBEMS proposed a 30%-easy, 50%-moderate and 20%-difficult question distribution, while stating that the June results would not be revised and that no grace marks were recommended.
Transparency and grievances
Student Concerns
Students sought greater access to examination information and stronger mechanisms for addressing FMGE-related complaints.
NBEMS Measures
NBEMS plans to publish detailed question, response and marks data, improve centre facilities, increase interaction with foreign medical graduates and consider adding an FMG representative to its grievance redressal committee.
- Additional examination
- NBEMS plans to hold an FMGE by the end of October 2026, but the date, registration process and centres have not been announced.
- June 2026 results
- Of 37,448 candidates who appeared, 4,636 qualified, producing an overall pass percentage of 12.38%.
- Future schedule
- FMGE is expected to be conducted three times yearly from 2027: December/January, April/May and August/September.
- Question pattern
- The proposed distribution is 30% low-difficulty, 50% moderate-difficulty and 20% difficult questions.
- Candidate transparency
- The applicant portal will show question IDs, correct answer IDs, marked response IDs and marks awarded for individual questions.
- Additional time
- Candidates will receive one extra minute per section, capped at three additional minutes per shift, for biometric attendance.
- June examination case
- NBEMS will inform the Delhi High Court that 14 video-based questions appeared in the June 2026 FMGE; no grace or compensatory marks were recommended.
