1 week ago
FMGE Panel Rejects Lower Bar, Proposes Three Exams Yearly
Foreign medical graduates must pass the FMGE before they can practise medicine in India.
Many candidates protested because they thought the June 2026 test was too difficult or not transparent enough.
Some wanted extra marks or a lower passing standard.
NBEMS said the exam must keep its minimum competency requirement to help protect patients.
An expert panel found no strong evidence that the June test unfairly harmed candidates.
The panel suggested making the exam easier to review and more convenient.
It proposed studying whether the exam could be held three times each year.
Candidates could also be allowed to see their recorded answers, if technical and legal safeguards are in place.
The panel recommended balancing the question paper across different difficulty levels.
NBEMS rejected grace marks or a lower FMGE qualifying standard after protests over the June 2026 examination.
Candidates questioned the June paper’s difficulty, video-based questions and transparency.
An expert panel found no material evidence that the paper unfairly affected results or justified compensatory marks.
The panel proposed examining three FMGE sittings annually, reviewing fees and improving examination-centre infrastructure.
It recommended access to recorded responses and a question mix of 30% low-, 50% moderate- and 20% high-difficulty questions.
- Who
- Foreign medical graduates, NBEMS and a three-member expert panel chaired by Air Marshal (Dr.) Pawan Kapoor (Retd.).
- What
- NBEMS rejected demands to lower the FMGE standard or award grace marks, while the panel proposed reforms to improve transparency and access.
- Where
- India; the FMGE is required for foreign-trained medical graduates seeking to practise there.
- When
- During protests over the June 2026 FMGE, with comparisons to December 2025 results.
- Why
- Candidates raised concerns about difficulty and transparency, while NBEMS said the competency threshold is necessary for safe medical practice.
Candidates and Student Groups
NBEMS and Expert Review
Qualifying standard
Candidates and Student Groups
Some candidates sought grace or compensatory marks and questioned whether the June examination was disproportionately difficult.
NBEMS and Expert Review
NBEMS rejected a lower standard or grace marks, saying the FMGE must establish minimum competence for safe medical practice.
Exam transparency
Candidates and Student Groups
Protesting graduates raised concerns about video-based questions, paper difficulty and limited visibility into the examination process.
NBEMS and Expert Review
The panel proposed access to recorded responses, subject to technical and legal safeguards, along with other transparency measures.
Interpretation of results
Candidates and Student Groups
Candidates pointed to the June examination’s results and attempt-specific pass rates amid concerns about the paper’s fairness.
NBEMS and Expert Review
NBEMS said overall pass percentages should not be used alone to conclude that an entire cohort faced an unfair examination, noting differences by number of attempts.
Commercial interests in protests
Candidates and Student Groups
Some student groups raised concerns that overseas medical consultancies and coaching-related interests could have a vested interest in influencing the agitation.
NBEMS and Expert Review
NBEMS has focused on examination transparency, accessibility and competency standards rather than endorsing claims about commercial involvement.
Key facts
- Exam body
- National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS)
- June 2026 first-attempt pass rate
- 35.74%
- June 2026 second-attempt pass rate
- 21.45%
- June 2026 pass rate after more than five attempts
- 3.29%
- December 2025 first-attempt pass rate
- 47.53%
- December 2025 pass rate after more than five attempts
- 5.58%
- Proposed question balance
- 30% low difficulty, 50% moderate difficulty and 20% high difficulty; mean difficulty not above 5.5
Quotes
Senior NBEMS official
An official of the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences
“The issue is to ensure a fair and transparent examination while retaining the competency threshold necessary for patient safety”
NDTV
Sources
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