FMGE 2026: NBEMS Announces Major Exam Changes, Additional Exam by October

Published: Friday, August 28, 2026, 9:34 [IST]

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has announced several changes to the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), including an additional examination expected to be conducted by the end of October 2026.

FMGE 2026: NBEMS Announces Major Exam Changes — Photo Credits - AI Image

The move is aimed at providing eligible foreign medical graduates (FMGs) with an earlier opportunity to appear for the screening test and addressing concerns raised about the examination process.

The announcement follows discussions between representatives of the All India Medical Student Association-Foreign Medical Student Wing (AIMSA-FMSW) and NBEMS officials over issues related to the FMGE June 2026 examination. Following the discussions, AIMSA-FMSW called off its protest.

FMGE to Be Conducted Three Times a Year

One of the major decisions is that the FMGE will be conducted three times a year from next year. The proposed examination schedule will include sessions around:

December/January
April/May
August/September

In addition, NBEMS has announced an extra FMGE examination by the end of October 2026, giving eligible candidates an opportunity to appear earlier than the regular cycle.

FMGE Question Paper Difficulty to Be Rationalised

NBEMS has also decided to rationalise the difficulty level of the FMGE question paper. According to the announcement, questions will be distributed across difficulty levels in the following proportion:

Low difficulty: 30%
Moderate difficulty: 50%
Difficult: 20%

The change is intended to provide a more balanced question paper while continuing to assess the minimum competency required for medical practice in India.

FMGE Examination Fee to Be Reduced

Another important decision concerns the FMGE examination fee. NBEMS has stated that the examination fee will be reduced from the next examination onwards.

The revised fee structure and the date from which the reduced fee will apply are expected to be communicated through the official examination notification.

FMGE Candidates to Get More Examination Response Details

NBEMS has agreed to provide candidates with greater transparency regarding their examination responses. The candidate portal will include details such as:

Question IDs
Correct answer IDs
Response IDs marked by candidates
Marks awarded for each question

The move is expected to help candidates better understand their examination performance and provide greater transparency in the evaluation process.

FMGE June 2026 Video-Based Questions

NBEMS has also stated that the conducting authority will declare the number of video-based questions in the FMGE June 2026 examination as 14 before the Delhi High Court in an ongoing matter.

The issue forms part of the concerns raised regarding the June 2026 examination.

FMGE Grievance Redressal Mechanism

The request to include a representative of foreign medical graduates in the NBEMS grievance redressal committee for FMGE-related matters will be considered by the NBEMS Governing Body.

The board has also indicated that interactions between NBEMS and foreign medical graduates will be made more frequent to address genuine concerns related to the examination.

FMGE Exam Centre Facilities to Be Improved

NBEMS has agreed to take steps to improve facilities at examination centres. Necessary instructions will be issued to the technology partner responsible for conducting the examination.

The objective is to ensure that examination centres provide a more conducive environment for candidates and that operational issues do not unnecessarily affect the examination experience.

Additional Time for Biometric Attendance

Another change relates to the time required for biometric attendance during the examination. NBEMS has decided to provide one additional minute per section, subject to a maximum of three additional minutes per shift.

The additional time is intended to accommodate the time candidates may spend completing biometric attendance procedures during the examination.

No Change in FMGE June 2026 Results

An expert panel constituted by NBEMS had earlier examined concerns related to the FMGE June 2026 results. The panel ruled out retrospective alteration of the results or the award of compensatory marks.

According to the panel's assessment, while there is scope for improvements in future examinations, the available evidence did not support changing the June 2026 results or awarding compensatory marks.

NBEMS Says Minimum Competency Standards Cannot Be Compromised

NBEMS has indicated that it is willing to address genuine concerns raised by foreign medical graduates but maintained that the minimum competency standards required to practise medicine in India cannot be compromised.

The latest measures therefore focus on improving examination transparency, candidate support, question-paper balance, examination-centre facilities and grievance redressal while retaining the competency requirements of the FMGE.

FMGE 2026: Key Changes at a Glance

The major decisions announced by NBEMS include:

An additional FMGE examination by the end of October 2026.
FMGE to be conducted three times a year from next year.
Question difficulty ratio of 30:50:20 for low, moderate and difficult questions.
Reduction in the FMGE examination fee from the next examination.
Publication of question, correct-answer and candidate-response IDs on the portal.
Declaration of 14 video-based questions for FMGE June 2026 before the Delhi High Court.
Consideration of FMG representation in the grievance redressal mechanism.
More frequent interaction between NBEMS and foreign medical graduates.
Improved examination-centre facilities.
Up to three additional minutes per shift for biometric attendance.

The latest changes are expected to provide greater clarity and transparency for FMGE candidates while maintaining the competency standards applicable to foreign medical graduates seeking to practise medicine in India. Candidates should follow the official NBEMS notifications for the detailed schedule, eligibility conditions, application process and fee applicable to the upcoming FMGE examination.