FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Examination) is a mandatory licensing exam conducted by NBEMS for Indian citizens who completed MBBS abroad, now held three times a year as of August 2026 (previously twice yearly). Passing FMGE is required to register with NMC and practice medicine in India.

🩺 Foreign Medical Graduate Exam

FMGE 2026 — Complete Guide for Foreign MBBS Graduates

Q: When is the next FMGE exam after June 2026?

NBEMS added an extra FMGE session on October 31, 2026, as part of a move to a thrice-yearly schedule announced August 28, 2026. The session originally planned for January 9, 2027 has been postponed to late January or February 2027. Check natboard.edu.in for the official information bulletin.

Q: Is there negative marking in FMGE?

No. FMGE has no negative marking. Each correct answer gives +1 mark. Unattempted questions score 0. You must score 150 out of 300 to pass.

FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Examination) is the mandatory gateway for Indian students who completed MBBS abroad to practice medicine in India. NBEMS announced in late August 2026 that FMGE now runs three times a year instead of two, with a newly added session on October 31, 2026. You need 150 out of 300 marks to pass. No negative marking.

● Active Exam 🗓 Next session: October 31, 2026 📋 300 MCQs · 5 Hours ✅ No negative marking 🎯 Pass mark: 150/300

Schedule change (Aug 28, 2026): NBEMS has shifted FMGE from twice a year to thrice a year. An additional session has been added on October 31, 2026. The session that was earlier scheduled for January 9, 2027 has been postponed to a later date in late January or February 2027. The detailed information bulletin for the October session is awaited — check natboard.edu.in for the official notice.

Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Conducted by	NBEMS — National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences
Official website	natboard.edu.in
Frequency	Now three times yearly (changed Aug 2026) — was twice yearly (June/December)
June 2026 exam	June 28, 2026 (completed)
Additional October 2026 exam	October 31, 2026 — application schedule awaited
Next session after that	Postponed from Jan 9, 2027 to late Jan/Feb 2027
Total questions	300 MCQs (150 Part A + 150 Part B)
Total marks	300 marks
Duration	5 hours (2.5 hours per part)
Marking scheme	+1 correct · 0 unattempted · No negative marking
Passing marks	150 out of 300 (50%) — same for all categories
Mode	Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Exam cities	75+ cities across India
Application fee	~₹7,080 (non-refundable)
Who must appear	Indian / OCI citizens with MBBS from foreign universities
Exempted countries	USA, UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand
National pass rate	40–50% (varies by country of graduation)

Explore All FMGE Pages

🏠 FMGE HubOverview & all important dates 📅 Exam DateJune 28 done · Oct 31 next 🪪 Admit CardDownload from natboard.edu.in 📋 Exam Pattern300 Qs · 5 hrs · No negative 📚 SyllabusAll 19 MBBS subjects with marks 🎯 Cutoff150/300 for all categories 🏆 ResultResult date & scorecard 💡 PreparationHow to pass in first attempt ⚖️ FMGE vs NExTWill NExT replace FMGE?

October 31, 2026 Session — Expected Timeline

Event	Expected Date
Eligibility certificate window (NMC portal)	Sep 1–30, 2026
Application opens (tentative)	Early-to-mid October 2026
City intimation slip	~2 weeks before exam
Admit card release	~4 days before exam
FMGE exam	October 31, 2026
Result	~3–4 weeks after exam

This is a genuinely new opportunity: since this October session was moved up from January 9, 2027, candidates who were preparing for a Dec/Jan attempt now get a shot roughly two months earlier. NBEMS hasn’t released the full information bulletin yet — the application window, fee and exact centre list are still pending official confirmation.

Important: FMGE is a licensing exam, not an entrance exam. Passing FMGE does not give you PG admission. After passing, you can register with NMC and practice medicine in India. For PG admission, you must separately appear for NEET PG or INICET.

Who Must Appear for FMGE?

Any Indian citizen or Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) who has completed an MBBS (or equivalent) degree from a university outside India must pass FMGE before they can legally practice medicine in India. This includes graduates from Russia, Ukraine, China, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and all other countries except USA, UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand (whose graduates are automatically exempted).

Without a valid FMGE pass certificate, you cannot register with NMC, examine patients, issue prescriptions, perform procedures, or apply for PG medical education in India. FMGE certification is the non-negotiable legal prerequisite.

The examination is also a prerequisite before appearing for NEET PG or INICET — meaning foreign medical graduates must clear FMGE first, then appear for PG entrance exams if they wish to specialise.

FMGE vs NEET PG vs INICET — Key Difference

FMGE is a licensing exam — pass or fail. No ranking. No admission. Just a pass certificate that lets you practice and register.

NEET PG is an entrance exam — competitive, ranked, used for MD/MS/PG Diploma admission across 52,000 seats.

INICET is an entrance exam — highly competitive, for 815 seats across AIIMS and INIs.

If you are a foreign medical graduate: clear FMGE first → get NMC registration → then appear for NEET PG / INICET for specialisation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is FMGE and who needs to take it?

FMGE is a mandatory licensing examination for Indian citizens and OCIs who completed MBBS abroad. You must pass FMGE to register with NMC and legally practice medicine in India. It is conducted by NBEMS at natboard.edu.in — three times a year as of the August 2026 schedule change (previously twice yearly).

Is there negative marking in FMGE 2026?

No. There is no negative marking in FMGE. Each correct answer gives +1 mark. Unattempted questions score 0. This makes FMGE different from NEET PG (which has −1 negative marking) and encourages attempting all questions.

How many attempts are allowed for FMGE?

There is no official limit on FMGE attempts. You can appear in every session until you pass — and there are now three sessions a year instead of two. However, since each attempt costs a non-refundable fee (~₹7,080 per recent notices), systematic preparation before attempting is strongly recommended.

Why did NBEMS add an FMGE session in October 2026?

On August 28, 2026, NBEMS announced FMGE would move from a twice-yearly to a thrice-yearly cycle, adding a session on October 31, 2026. The session originally planned for January 9, 2027 has been pushed to a later date in late January or February 2027. This gives candidates an extra, earlier attempt instead of waiting for the original January slot.

Can FMGE passers directly apply for NEET PG?

Yes. After clearing FMGE and completing internship (if not done), you can apply for NEET PG. Your FMGE pass certificate + NMC registration + completed internship makes you eligible for NEET PG.

Will NExT replace FMGE?

Eventually yes, but not before 2028–29. NExT (National Exit Test) is confirmed to replace FMGE and NEET PG, but full implementation is deferred. Graduates in 2026 will still take FMGE under the existing system. Read full FMGE vs NExT analysis →

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