NEET PG 2025 To NExT 2025 Latest Shift in Medical Entrance Exam
NExT 2025 or National Exit Test is set to replace the NEET PG 2025 entrance exam in India. Health Ministry constituted a seven-member panel to check preparedness speculating NExT 2025.
Nivedita Dar18 Oct, 2023
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NExT 2025 the popular abbreviation of the National Exit Test is all set to transform the medical entrance examination in the country. Recently, the Union Health Ministry in consultation with the National Medical Commission (NMC) constituted a 7 member panel to review the readiness of states and universities for the NExT exam leaving students confused over NExT 2025 and NEET PG 2025.
Previously the Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER) also briefly mentioned the NExT exam while issuing a schedule for postgraduate medical admission in 2024. As students are left wondering about NEET PG 2025 or NExT 2025 , they must know the new changes in the PG medical entrance landscape that await them.NEET PG
So far the MBBS students are evaluated through the National Eligibility Entrance Test (Postgraduate) exam for admission to PG medical courses like MDS, MS, DNB, and post MBBS PG Diploma courses. The exam is conducted by the National Board of Examinations online in the computer-based test mode once a year. There were some major issues with this exam which led NMC to reform the existing system of entrance exam.- The first issue is that it mostly focuses on the theoretical knowledge of the MBBS graduates as they need to solve around 200 MCQ-based questions.
- The second issue is that it is conducted once a year leading to significant vacancies for which many times NMC has to reduce the qualifying cut-off. Lately, NMC had to reduce the NEET PG Cutoff to Zero to address this issue.
- The third challenge is that those who completed MBBS from outside India must pass the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) test to be eligible for NEET PG leading to a significant resource crunch.
NExT Exam
The National Exit Test (NExT) was introduced by NMC for the 2019 MBBS batch however due to unforeseen circumstances of COVID this exam was deferred until further notice. In June 2023 the NMC again conducted a webinar regarding the NExT exam detailing the process, syllabus, objectives, and other related aspects of this exam. According to the NMC information brochure, the National Exit Test (NExT) will be conducted by the All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) biannually in two sessions, Step 1 and Step 2. This exam once executed will take the place of NEET PG and FMGE together and will be conducted in the same computer-based online test mode. However, unlike the other two exams, it will focus equally on the theoretical and practical knowledge of medical graduates. All students who have completed their MBBS will be eligible to take part in NExT 2025 Step 1 and after qualifying for this and completing the internship they will be tested on practical skills in NExT 2025 Step 2. As of now, the exam is being speculated in August 2025 for MBBS 2020 batch students as per NMC guidelines.NExT 2025 and NEET PG 2025 Difference
The NMC aimed to transform the evaluation process for future doctors while addressing the demand-supply mismatch in the medicine field through the NExT exam. The students must understand the difference between NExT 2025 and NEET PG 2025 to remove any apprehensions they are having about this new transformation. Purpose: The NEET PG exam is conducted as a mere entrance exam for pursuing postgraduate medical courses in India while the NExT Exam 2025 will be the standardized test for the license to practice medicine and enroll for PG admissions in India. Exam Format: NEET PG is a single-stage exam with objective types of questions while NExT Exam 2025 will be conducted in two sessions. Step 1 will check the theoretical part in line with NEET PG and Step 2 will focus on the practical aspect with short and long answer-type questions. Exam Syllabus: NExT Exam syllabus is likely to be reduced to half as only the final year part of MBBS will be focused compared to the NEET PG exam. The detailed syllabus will be available soon at the official website of NMC. Result: While NEET PG results make candidates eligible for PG medical admission counseling after the NExT Exam 2025 step 1 students will have to compete in NExT step 2 to be conducted in a few months gap.NEET PG 2025 or NExT 2025?
According to the PGMER notification, there is no clarity on NExT 2024 replacing NEET PG 2024. Also, the NMC has yet to release a public notification regarding the NExT 2024 exam as it had previously stated students will be given sufficient time to prepare for these new changes. NMC announced a NExT 2023 Mock exam which was canceled later on. As per the official statement until notified the NExT 2024 exam will not replace the NEET PG 2024. The NEET PG 2024 will be therefore conducted in 3rd March 2024 following the NEET PG 2023 exam schedule that was held on March 5. Regarding the formation of the committee, it reviews the preparedness for the NExT Exam 2025. This exam will be conducted in place of NEET PG 2025 for Indian medical graduates and FMGE 2025 for foreign medical graduates. NExT 2025 is scheduled for the 2020 MBBS final year batch students. They will be briefed once the committee gives their final recommendation following which the NExT exam will be conducted annually twice a year.NExT Exam 2025 Objective
NMC brought the concept of a national-level examination named the National Exit Test (NExT) for 2019 batch MBBS students. The exam was later postponed and speculated to be held in 2025 for the final-year MBBS students.- The objective of the NExT exam is to conduct a unified examination for admission to PG medical courses.
- The NMC aims to bring the concept of ‘one nation one exam’ with NExT exam 2025 for medical courses and medical licenses.
- Once executed, medical graduates will not need to appear in multiple exams like NEET PG, FMGE, or INI CET.
NExT 2025 Highlights
NExT 2025 will be conducted by AIIMS Delhi for admission to postgraduate medical courses in Indian medical colleges and hospitals. The exam was estimated for 2019 MBBS batch students as per regulations issued by NMC. The confirmed details on NExT exam will be published by NMC after the recommendations of the seven-member committee. NExT exam important highlights are given in the following table:| NExT 2025 Highlights | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Name | National Exit Test |
| Authority | All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi |
| Conducted for | Medical License and Postgraduate admission |
| Eligibility | Final year MBBS students of India and Abroad |
| Exam Date | August 2025 |
| Exam Session | NExT Step 1 and NExT Step 2 |
| Exam Mode | Online |
| Question Paper Pattern | MCQs and Short and Long Answer Questions |
| Attempt Limit | Unlimited |
NExT Exam Date 2025
The NExT Exam Date 2025 will be released by AIIMS, Delhi on behalf of NMC. The exam dates will be released if the committee gives its approval to the NExT exam. The exam for NExT 2025 can be held in August month if approved by NMC. It will be held in two sessions as NExT Step 1 in August 2025 while NExT Step 2 will be held in February month next year. The tentative schedule for NExT Exam 2025 as per available information is given in the below table:| NExT 2025 Exam Date | |
| Event | Date |
| NExT Step 1 Notification | To be notified |
| NExT Step 1 Registration Start | To be notified |
| Last Date to register | To be notified |
| NExT Admit Card 2025 | To be notified |
| NExT Exam Date for Step 1 | August 2025 |
| NExT Result for Step 1 | To be notified |
| NExT Step 2 Notification | To be notified |
| NExT Step 2 Registration Start | To be notified |
| Last Date to register | To be notified |
| NExT Step 2 Admit Card | To be notified |
| NExT Exam Date for Step 2 | To be notified |
| NExT Step 2 Result | To be notified |
NExT Exam Pattern 2025
The NExT Exam Pattern 2025 is available as per NMC guidelines. NExT Exam 2025 will be held in two stages, NExT Step 1 and NExT Step 2. NExT Step 1 could be held in August 2025 and NExT Step 2 will be held in February. The NExT Step 2 will be held in February month after Step 1 or Phase 1 results. NExT 2025 Step 1:- The NExT Step 1 will be held in online mode and have a total of 540 multiple-choice questions.
- The NExT Step 1 will have a total of six papers covering subjects from the third year and final MBBS course.
- NExT Step 1 will be entirely theory-based including Part 1 and Part 2 and MBBS students must pass it within 10 years of enrolling in the course.
- NExT Step 2 will check the practical learnings of final-year MBBS students with short and long-answer type viva voice-based questions.
- After qualifying for NExT Step 1, the MBBS students will need to complete a 12-month mandatory internship before appearing for NExT Step 2.
- As per the guidelines, the MBBS students must score 50% marks in each paper to qualify for NExT Step 1 and Step 2.
NExT 2025 Eligibility Criteria
The NExT eligibility criteria were issued by NMC in its guidelines for NExT mock exams. As per NMC regulation issued in June 2023 following candidates will be eligible for the NExT 2025 Step 1 exam:- Academic: Applicant must be in the final year of their MBBS degree course.
- Qualifying Marks: Candidates must have 50% aggregate marks in their MBBS degree.
- Qualifying Exam: Applying candidates must have passed the NExT Step 1.
- Internship : Candidates should have completed the 12-month internship after passing the Step 1.
NExT Syllabus 2025
The NExT syllabus 2025 will be released in detail by NMC after the dates are finalized for the NExT Step 1 exam. However, as per draft regulation, the NExT syllabus will comprise around six subjects in clinical, pre-clinical, and para-clinical domains. The subjects for the NExT exam will be divided into two parts, theory and practical.-
The syllabus for the theoretical part of NExT Step 1 will contain the following subjects:
- Medicine and allied subjects
- Pediatrics
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Surgery and allied subjects
- Obstetrics
- Gynecology
- Ophthalmology
NExT 2025 FAQs
What is the NExT 2025 exam?
The National Exit Test or (NExT) exam is an entrance and licensure exam. Its score will be used for PG medical course admission and offer a license to practice medicine.
Will the NExT exam replace the NEET PG?
Once executed the NExT exam will replace the NEET PG. However, there is no confirmed notification from NMC regarding this.
When will the NExT exam be conducted?
The NExT exam will be conducted in August 2025 for the 2020 batch of MBBS students
What is the minimum qualification for the NExT 2025?
The candidate must be in their final year of MBBS for NExT 2025 Step 1.
Which organization will be the responsible body for NExT 2025?
As per the available information the AIIMS, Delhi will be the responsible body for NExT 2025.
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