National Exit Test (NExT) Exam 2026: Status, Eligibility, Pattern and Syllabus

In summary

The national exit test (NExT) is the National Medical Commission's planned single exam for MBBS licensing and PG admission. NMC deferred it in October 2025 by 3 to 4 years, so NEET PG and FMGE continue for now.

• Purpose: Once notified, NExT will be the exit exam for MBBS graduates and replace both NEET PG and FMGE.
• Schedule: The NExT exam is planned twice a year, in May and November, under the NMC's NExT Regulations, 2023.
• Step 1: Step 1 is a computer-based test of 540 MCQs over 3 days, with a pass mark of 50% in each paper.
• Step 2: Step 2 is a clinical and practical assessment on a pass or fail basis, taken after the 1-year internship.
• Licence: Clearing both steps within 10 years of joining MBBS leads to a licence to practise and registration.

If you are a medical practitioner planning to set up or expand a clinic, check your eligibility for a Doctor Loan to fund eligible practice needs. 

The national exit test (NExT) remains deferred, and NEET PG and FMGE continue until the NMC notifies a start date.

Last updated: 29 October, 2026

The NExT exam, or National Exit Test, is the NMC's planned exam for licensing MBBS graduates and admitting them to PG courses.

Last updated: 29 October, 2026

The exit exam for MBBS is open to students who have completed the final-year MBBS course at an NMC-recognised college and to foreign medical graduates seeking a licence in India.

Last updated: 29 October, 2026

NExT exam eligibility example (hypothetical)

Once NExT is in force, Priya, 23, a final-year MBBS student at a government medical college in Pune, would take Step 1 as her final-year theory exam. Her Step 1 score would decide her PG merit rank, and Step 2, taken after her 1-year internship, would lead to her licence.

Inside hospitals, a Medical director oversees the clinical standards that NExT sets for new graduates.

If you are a medical practitioner planning to set up or expand a clinic, check your eligibility for a Doctor Loan to fund eligible practice needs. 

The national exit test has two primary objectives: to license MBBS graduates against one national standard and to rank them for PG admission.

Last updated: 29 October, 2026

The National Medical Commission (NMC) conducts the national exit test under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019. The NMC frames the NExT Regulations, sets the syllabus and schedule, and notifies exam dates. State health universities or institutions the NMC chooses administer Step 2 in person under its norms.

The main advantage of the national exit test is one exam that serves licensing, PG admission and foreign graduate screening together.

Last updated: 29 October, 2026

The trade-off is higher stakes: you must clear both steps within 10 years of joining MBBS, and a Step 2 result after internship decides when you can start practice.

The NExT exam syllabus covers 6 clinical subjects in Step 1 and 7 subjects in Step 2, integrating pre-clinical, para-clinical and clinical knowledge.

Last updated: 29 October, 2026

NExT Step 2 syllabus

Step 2 adds Orthopaedics and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) to the Step 1 subjects, for 7 subjects in total.

Last updated: 29 October, 2026

The next exam pattern has 2 steps: Step 1, a theory test, and Step 2, a clinical and practical assessment, both set by the national exit test regulations.

1. Step 1: A computer-based test of 540 MCQs across 6 subjects over 3 days, with a pass mark of 50% in each paper. To start your internship, you must pass all 6 Step 1 papers and your university's final practical and clinical exam.
2. Step 2: A clinical, case-based practical and viva examination in 7 subjects, assessed on a pass or fail basis.

You take Step 1 at the end of final-year MBBS and Step 2 after your 1-year internship, and clearing both steps of this exit exam for MBBS leads to your medical licence and eligibility for postgraduate courses.

The NExT exam pattern differs sharply between the two steps.

Last updated: 29 October, 2026

The next exam pattern for Step 1 needs 50% in each paper to pass, and the NMC draft weights its 540 questions at 60% to 70% problem-solving, 20% to 30% comprehension and 5% to 15% recall.

Last updated: 29 October, 2026

The NMC draft spreads the 3 exam days across 5 calendar days, with a rest day between each.

The NExT exam cut-off for Step 1 is 50% of the maximum raw marks in each paper, while Step 2 is assessed on a pass or fail basis.

Last updated: 29 October, 2026

Clearing Step 1 comes before your internship and Step 2, so a missed cut-off moves your internship to a later exam cycle.

NExT Step 1 and Step 2 of the national exit test differ in purpose: Step 1 is a written test of medical knowledge, while Step 2 is a clinical assessment of patient care skills.

Last updated: 29 October, 2026

The national exit test will replace both NEET PG and FMGE once notified, combining licensing and PG admission in one two-step exam.

Last updated: 29 October, 2026

Preparing for the national exit test means shifting from recall to clinical reasoning, as 60% to 70% of Step 1 questions test problem-solving under the NMC draft.

1. Practise case-based MCQs: Solve application-based questions in place of rote recall.
2. Study subjects in an integrated way: Link pre-clinical, para-clinical and clinical concepts across the 6 Step 1 subjects.
3. Follow the question split: Plan revision around the draft weighting: 60% to 70% problem-solving, 20% to 30% comprehension and 5% to 15% recall.
4. Prepare for Step 2 with clinical practice: Rehearse patient interaction, physical examination and case presentation during internship.
5. Track NMC notifications: Check offical portal regularly for the exam schedule, application window and admit card release.

Once you are licensed, a Bajaj Finance Doctor Loan can support your clinic or equipment plans, subject to eligibility and loan terms.

You will register for the national exit test, or next test, on the official portal the NMC notifies once it announces the exam schedule.

1. Watch the NMC portal: Track nmc.org.in for the NExT exam registration notice and application window.
2. Check eligibility: Confirm you have completed the final-year MBBS course or hold an eligible foreign medical degree.
3. Fill in the online form: Enter your personal, academic and college details.
4. Pay the fee: Pay the prescribed application fee online and download the confirmation.
5. Download the admit card: Get your admit card from the portal once it is released.

Submit your form early in the window, as traffic on the last day can slow the portal.

For most students, the national exit test is simpler than separate exams, though a single exam raises the stakes of each attempt.

Last updated: 29 October, 2026

A Bajaj Finance Doctor Loan offers 11% to 17.50% per annum over 12 months to 96 months (8 years) to doctors whose degree is registered with the medical council, to fund a clinic, equipment or higher studies, subject to eligibility and loan terms.

Last updated: 29 October, 2026

Eligibility check (hypothetical personas)

Dr. Arjun, 27, is a physician in Lucknow, permanently registered after his internship, earning Rs. 1.2 lakh a month with a CIBIL Score of 760. Dr. Meera, 24, is an intern in Jaipur on provisional registration.

Last updated: 29 October, 2026

Documents required

• KYC: Aadhaar, passport, voter's ID, driving licence, NPR letter or NREGA job card
• PAN card
• Medical registration certificate

How to apply

1. Click on the 'CHECK LOAN OFFER’ button on this page.
2. Fill in the application form with your basic personal and professional details.
3. Once you fill out the form, click on ‘CONTINUE’.
4. Update the KYC details.

Fees and charges

Last updated: 29 October, 2026

Worked example (hypothetical)

A Rs. 10 lakh Doctor Loan at an assumed 13% per annum costs Dr. Arjun Rs. 33,694 a month over 36 months or Rs. 22,753 a month over 60 months, subject to eligibility and loan terms.

Inputs: Dr. Arjun borrows Rs. 10 lakh to equip his first consultation room. EMI = P × r × (1 + r)^n / ((1 + r)^n − 1), where P is the loan amount, r is the monthly rate (annual rate ÷ 12 ÷ 100) and n is the tenure in months.

Last updated: 29 October, 2026

The 60-month tenure lowers the EMI by Rs. 10,941 a month and adds Rs. 1,52,202 in interest. Compare this cost with your other borrowing options before you apply.

The national exit test is set to become the single route to a medical licence and PG seat in India, though NEET PG and FMGE continue until the NMC notifies it. Prepare for clinical reasoning, track NMC notices and plan your practice early. Once you are licensed, a Bajaj Finance Doctor Loan can fund your clinic or equipment, subject to eligibility and loan terms.