Ensure fair, equitable evaluation process in NExT: House panel

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Last Updated13/02/2024

The National Exit Test (NExT) should be brought in only after meticulous due diligence.

Keeping in mind the diverse background of medical colleges from which the first batch of NExT aspirants will come
- The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare said in its report on the quality of medical education in India
The Committee, under the chairmanship of Bhubaneswar Kalita, explained that
- presently, it is medical colleges which conduct final-year MBBS examinations.
At the same time, the responsibility for NEET PG and FMGE — which are licensing and qualifying examinations for those who have completed their undergraduate medical degrees —
- Falls under the purview of the National Board of Examinations (NBE), overseen by the Director-General of Health Services within the Health Ministry.
The National Medical Commission Act now provides for the NExT to enhance the competence of graduating MBBS students who obtain licenses to practice annually.
This initiative addresses the current emphasis on clearing the NEET-PG, which is predominantly theoretical and necessitates rote memorisation.
In June 2023, the National Medical Commission developed the NMC Exit Test Regulations 2023 (NEXT Regulations, 2023).
- The test was to replace the final MBBS examination
- Act as a licentiate exam for grant of registration to practice medicine, and provide a basis for entry to postgraduate courses instead of NEET PG.

The Committee recommended that the government divide India into zones, with reputed institutes
- such as AIIMS to function as mentor institutes for all the other medical colleges in that zone.
Mentor institutes shall play a significant role in monitoring the standard of education and the classes in the newer medical colleges as well as private institutions.