NExT regulations 2023 prepared after considering 6,500 suggestions, exam deferred after protest

NEW DELHI: The National Medical Commission (NMC) prepared the National Exit Test (NExT 2023) regulations after considering 6,500 suggestions, the minister of health and family welfare, Mansukh Mandaviya told the Rajya Sabha today. However, the NExT 2023 exam was postponed till further notice after students raised apprehension.

Recently, the NMC notified the Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) regulations 2023 and announced that the NExT step 1 exam will be held in February 2028 and step 2 in February 2029.

Answering a question on whether wider consultations will be held with all the stakeholders including state governments before conducting the NExT examinations, the health minister said: “The draft regulations was discussed and approved in the meeting of the NMC where Universities and State Medical Councils are also represented.”

Despite the approval of the state medical councils and universities, students from across the country, including those in Tamil Nadu, raised apprehension against the exam which will replace NEET PG. Taking this into consideration, the NMC on July 13 issued a notice to defer the NExT exam till further notice.

Vaiko, member of Rajya Sabha asked “whether the NExT based on MCQ pattern and nothing to do with clinical knowledge”. Mansukh Mandaviya replied: “NExT will be a comprehensive computer-based examination based on high-quality multiple-choice questions (MCQ) focused on addressing higher domains of knowledge aligned to competencies expected of a medical graduate practicing the modern system of medicine.”

Further, he said that the exam will serve as a licentiate examination and also for admission to postgraduate medical courses.