NBEMS announces major reforms to Foreign Medical Graduate Examination

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has announced significant policy changes to the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) to make the process more student-friendly. Following discussions with the All-India Medical Students Association–Foreign Medical Students Wing (AIMSA-FMSW), the NBEMS will increase the examination frequency from twice a year to three times a year starting in 2027.

To address concerns regarding exam difficulty, the NBEMS will rationalize the question paper structure. The new distribution will consist of 30% low-difficulty, 50% moderate-difficulty, and 20% difficult questions. Additionally, the board has agreed to reduce the examination fee, though the specific revised amount has not yet been announced. The NBEMS will also improve transparency by publishing question IDs, correct answer IDs, and individual candidate marks on applicant portals.

Separately, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has opened the application process for the 2026 FMGE Eligibility Certificate. Candidates who studied medicine abroad must apply online between September 1 and September 30, 2026, to be eligible for the upcoming screening examination.