NMC issues draft regulations regarding NExT

Draft regulations for the National Exit Test (NExT), which is required for admission to postgraduate medical programs and for obtaining a license to practice medicine in India, have been released by the National Medical Commission (NMC).

The proposed rules state that NExT will be administered as two distinct tests known as ‘Steps’. The conceptual exam for Step 1 will take place in the second week of



December, and the practical exam for Step 2 will take place in the second week of March. The National Eligibility Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET PG) test is planned to be replaced by NExT.

NExT Step 1 will be a theoretical examination with multiple choice questions that will be conducted in computer-based test mode under NMC criteria. In contrast, Step 2 will be a practical and viva voce examination.