Published Jul 14, 2026 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 14, 2026 | 7:00 AM
Exam. Representative Image.
Synopsis: Candidates who attempted the June 2026 session of the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination noted concerns regarding the conduct, difficulty level and the results of the examination. Students, in a memorandum to the NBEMS, sought an independent academic review of the June examination, arguing that the paper represented “a substantial departure from the expected standard of a qualifying examination”.
For thousands of foreign medical graduates (FMGs), the June 2026 Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) ended not with the relief of qualifying to practise medicine in India, but with another six months of preparation.
The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) announced that only 4,635 of the 36,300 candidates who appeared for the June session passed, representing a pass percentage of 12.77 percent. More than 31,600 candidates failed, while 20 results were withheld.
Low pass percentages are not new to the FMGE, the mandatory licensing examination for Indian citizens and Overseas Citizens of India who obtain their primary medical qualification abroad. But this year’s results have reignited a long-running debate over whether the examination is gradually moving away from its intended role as a screening test and toward a more competitive entrance-examination model.
The concerns have come not only from candidates, but also from doctors’ organisations, student bodies and even a Member of Parliament, all of whom have urged NBEMS to review the examination.
“The FMGE was designed as a screening test, but it has increasingly become a competitive examination. The pattern, the absence of a detailed blueprint and answer key, and the changing question formats have made it much more challenging for candidates,” Dr D Srinath, president of the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), told South First.
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Unlike NEET-PG or INI-CET, the FMGE is not a ranking examination.
Candidates either secure the prescribed qualifying score of 150 out of 300 marks, or they do not. A candidate scoring 149 receives the same outcome as one scoring 90: Failure.
The June results show how many candidates found themselves just short of the qualifying line.
More than 4,100 candidates scored between 140 and 149 marks, including nearly 1,800 candidates who scored between 145 and 149. In comparison, about 2,367 candidates passed with scores between 150 and 159.
The average score among all candidates stood at 125 marks, while the median score was 124, indicating that most candidates were well below the qualifying threshold. Only 130 candidates scored above 200 marks, and just one candidate crossed 240 marks.
The numbers suggest that while many candidates struggled with the examination overall, a sizeable group narrowly missed qualifying.
For FAIMA, however, the issue extends beyond pass percentages. Srinath said the examination has steadily become more difficult over the years.
“The FMGE is a screening test conducted twice a year for Indian students who complete their medical education abroad and want to practise in India. Clearing this examination is mandatory before they can register and practise in the country,” he said.
According to him, the examination increasingly resembles a competitive entrance test.
“In recent years, the FMGE has become much more difficult. In my view, it has become even tougher than the NEET-PG examination. There is no blueprint indicating how many questions will come from each subject, and the answer key is not released after the examination. These factors make preparation and self-assessment difficult for candidates.”
He also pointed to changes in the question format introduced during the June examination.
“Around seven questions required candidates to watch clinical videos and identify or diagnose the condition shown. Such questions consume considerably more time than conventional multiple-choice questions.”
While NBEMS has not publicly commented on the concerns, Srinath said the absence of a published blueprint and answer keys has added to candidates’ frustration.
The concerns have now been formalised in a detailed representation submitted by candidates to NBEMS.
The memorandum sought an independent academic review of the June examination, arguing that the paper represented “a substantial departure from the expected standard of a qualifying examination.”
“The FMGE is a statutory screening examination intended to assess whether foreign medical graduates possess the minimum competency expected of an undergraduate medical graduate eligible for provisional registration in India,” the representation stated.
“It is not a competitive entrance examination for postgraduate admissions. The examination must therefore remain fair, transparent and consistent with its intended objective.”
Candidates have requested that NBEMS constitute an independent committee comprising medical education and assessment experts to examine whether the questions reflected undergraduate MBBS competency, whether the overall length of the paper was appropriate, and whether the increased use of video-based questions affected fairness.
The representation also raised concerns over transparency in the evaluation process.
Unlike several other national examinations, FMGE candidates are not provided with official answer keys, response sheets or a mechanism to challenge disputed questions.
The memorandum urged NBEMS to publish candidate response sheets, release official answer keys after the results, and introduce a time-bound objection mechanism.
“Greater transparency promotes confidence in public examinations and reduces avoidable litigation,” the representation stated.
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Apart from the question paper itself, candidates have also alleged deficiencies at examination centres.
The representation claimed that several TCS iON Digital centres suffered from inadequate infrastructure, including non-functional air conditioners, poor ventilation and insufficient drinking water facilities during the nearly eight-hour examination conducted in two sessions.
According to the memorandum, several candidates experienced symptoms associated with heat stress, including dizziness, dehydration and vomiting.
One candidate who appeared at the Aurangabad examination centre, in Maharashtra, described how malfunctioning computer equipment allegedly affected performance.
“We had to click six or seven times before a single click was registered. Because of this issue, I missed more than 15 questions, and now I have scored 149 marks. If I had attempted all those questions, I might have passed.”
The candidate further alleged that the computer mouse took 10–20 seconds to register a click.
“I still had time left, but the mouse was taking almost 10 to 20 seconds to register each click. Maybe if I had attempted all those questions, I would have passed today.”
The candidate also claimed that the issue affected the entire Aurangabad examination centre. South First could not independently verify the allegation.
The issue has also reached Parliament. Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi has written to NBEMS after receiving representations from candidates regarding the June FMGE.
In his letter dated 7 July, the MP said candidates had raised concerns relating to the examination pattern, transparency in evaluation and facilities available at certain examination centres.
“The representations submitted to my office raise concerns regarding the length and complexity of the question paper, the impact of time-intensive video-based questions, the absence of greater transparency in the evaluation process, and the reported deficiencies in infrastructure and basic amenities at certain examination centres,” he wrote.
While stopping short of endorsing the allegations, Mehdi said the issues, “If found to be substantiated,” deserved careful consideration in order to preserve the credibility of the examination.
He urged NBEMS to examine the academic aspects of the paper, the evaluation process and the reported shortcomings at examination centres.
The Foreign Medical Students’ Wing of the All India Medical Students’ Association (AIMSA) has separately urged NBEMS to consider a one-time reduction in the qualifying marks for the June session.
In its representation, AIMSA argued that the examination witnessed an “unexpected increase” in difficulty while also citing complaints regarding examination centre infrastructure.
The association requested NBEMS to review the difficulty level of the paper, investigate reported deficiencies at examination centres and consider reducing the qualifying marks for this session.
It argued that the demand was not intended to dilute academic standards.
“We firmly believe that this request is not intended to dilute academic standards but rather to uphold the principles of fairness, uniformity and equal opportunity for all candidates,” the representation stated.
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Questions over the FMGE are not new.
A 2016 study published in Education for Health, based on historical NBEMS data, found that only about one in four foreign medical graduates passed the examination between 2002 and 2014.
The June 2026 results suggest that the pass percentage has fallen substantially below the historical average. Whether that reflects a tougher examination, differences in candidate preparedness, changing standards, or other factors remains contested.
For candidates and doctors’ organisations, however, the latest results have renewed calls for greater transparency and an independent review of the examination process.
For now, more than 31,000 candidates will have to wait for the next FMGE session before they can once again attempt to secure registration to practise medicine in India.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
