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The Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) serves as a crucial gateway for Indian students who have completed their medical education abroad and wish to practise medicine in India. Every examination cycle carries significant importance, as it determines whether aspiring doctors can move forward in their professional journey. Given the high stakes involved, transparency, fairness and consistency in the examination process are essential for maintaining confidence among candidates. Following widespread concerns raised after the FMGE June 2026 examination, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has constituted a high-level expert committee to conduct a comprehensive review of candidate grievances. The move comes after protests by Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) and reflects the authorities’ willingness to examine concerns related to examination standards, infrastructure and assessment practices.
Why the Review Was Initiated
The decision to establish the expert committee follows protests organised by Foreign Medical Graduates at Jantar Mantar, where candidates expressed concerns regarding both the conduct of the examination and the declaration of results.
A formal meeting was subsequently held at the NBEMS office in Dwarka, bringing together senior officials and representatives from student organisations. The committee is chaired by Air Marshal (Dr) Pawan Kapoor (Retd) along with NBEMS Vice President Dr Minu Bajpai. Representatives from the All India Medical Students’ Association (AIMSA) and the Foreign Medical Graduates’ Association (AFA) also participated in the discussions, presenting the issues faced by candidates during the examination.
The committee has assured stakeholders that its findings and recommendations will be submitted within two weeks, providing hope for greater clarity and possible corrective measures.
Key Areas Under Examination
Rather than limiting the review to a single concern, the expert committee has been tasked with evaluating multiple aspects of the FMGE June 2026 examination.
The review will examine:
- Whether the examination questions matched standard MBBS exit-level expectations
- The impact of introducing video-based questions without prior notification
- Differences in difficulty levels across the last three FMGE sessions
- Infrastructure issues reported at examination centres
- Requests for greater transparency in the assessment process
This comprehensive approach indicates that the review aims to evaluate both the academic quality of the examination and the overall experience of candidates.
Concerns Over Video-Based Questions
One of the most widely discussed issues raised by candidates relates to the introduction of video-based questions during the examination.
Students alleged that these questions were introduced without prior communication and required additional time to comprehend and answer. As a result, many candidates felt that their overall time available for attempting the paper had effectively been reduced.
The expert committee will specifically assess whether the inclusion of such questions affected examination fairness and whether adequate consideration was given to time management while designing the assessment.
As medical education increasingly integrates digital learning tools, balancing innovation with fairness will remain an important consideration for examination authorities.
Examination Centre Infrastructure Under Scrutiny
Apart from academic concerns, candidates also highlighted problems related to examination centre infrastructure.
Reports submitted to NBEMS described issues including:
- Non-functional air conditioning
- Poor ventilation
- Excessive heat during the examination
- Uncomfortable testing environments
Such conditions can significantly affect concentration and performance, particularly during high-pressure professional examinations that require sustained focus over several hours.
The committee will investigate these complaints to determine whether examination centres met the required standards expected for national-level assessments.
Demands for Greater Transparency
Transparency has emerged as another major issue during the review process.
Student representatives have requested the release of official question papers and answer keys to help candidates better understand their performance and identify potential discrepancies.
The committee will also examine reports concerning identical scores recorded across different examination sessions and evaluate whether any irregularities require further investigation.
Greater transparency not only improves trust in examination systems but also enables candidates to have confidence that evaluations are conducted fairly and consistently.
Student Organisations Seek Fair Evaluation
Representatives from AIMSA and the Foreign Medical Graduates’ Association emphasised that candidates are not seeking preferential treatment but rather a fair and transparent evaluation process.
Student leaders have urged the authorities to consider measures such as:
- Reviewing disputed questions
- Awarding bonus marks where appropriate
- Examining the possibility of reducing qualifying cut-offs if justified under existing regulations
- Ensuring greater transparency in future FMGE examinations
While these requests remain under consideration, student representatives have stated that they will await the committee’s recommendations before deciding on any further course of action.
As EducationToday continues to track important developments in higher education and professional examinations, the formation of an expert committee demonstrates the importance of maintaining open dialogue between regulatory bodies and students. Responsive decision-making strengthens confidence in national assessment systems while ensuring that genuine concerns receive appropriate attention.
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Balancing Standards with Fairness
The FMGE plays an essential role in maintaining the quality of medical practice in India by ensuring that foreign medical graduates meet nationally accepted professional standards. At the same time, examinations of this importance must remain transparent, equitable and well administered.
A balanced evaluation process requires examination authorities to uphold rigorous academic standards while also ensuring that candidates receive equal opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge under fair testing conditions.
Reviews such as the present one help reinforce the credibility of professional examinations by encouraging continuous improvement based on candidate feedback and evolving educational practices.
Awaiting the Committee’s Recommendations
The expert committee is expected to complete its review and submit its recommendations within two weeks. Its findings could influence future FMGE examinations by addressing concerns related to examination design, candidate communication, assessment transparency and testing infrastructure.
Whether the committee recommends procedural improvements, enhanced transparency or other corrective measures, its work represents an important opportunity to strengthen confidence in one of India’s most significant medical licensing examinations.
For thousands of aspiring doctors who invest years in pursuing medical education abroad, a transparent and reliable examination process remains essential. The outcome of this review is therefore likely to shape not only the immediate concerns of FMGE June 2026 candidates but also the future conduct of the examination, ensuring that merit, fairness and accountability remain central to India’s medical education system.
NBEMS has formed the panel to examine grievances and representations submitted by candidates regarding the FMGE June 2026 examination.
The Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) is a screening examination for eligible Indian citizens or overseas citizens of India who hold primary medical qualifications from institutions outside India and seek registration to practise medicine in India.
Candidates who appeared for the FMGE June 2026 examination and have concerns covered by the prescribed grievance process may submit representations according to NBEMS instructions.
The expert panel will review the representations and examination-related concerns placed before it and assess them according to the applicable examination procedures.
Not necessarily. The formation of an expert panel does not automatically mean that results, questions or scores will be changed. Any decision will depend on the panel’s review and NBEMS’s official directions.
