Underlining that the Foreign Medical Graduates (FMG) exam is a screening test for foreign-trained medical students to practice in India and not an entrance examination, officials of the National Board of Education in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) have stated that qualifying standards for the test cannot be diluted.

Context

This statement comes amid ongoing protests by doctors against the high difficulty level of the test, lack of transparency, and inadequate test centre infrastructure. Responding to the doctors, who have been protesting for seven days, NBEMS officials emphasized that no grace marks will be awarded to students who took the test in June, asserting that those who adequately prepared were able to pass the examination.

Key Points

  • Minimum Qualifying Standard: The official stated, "The minimum qualifying standard exists because doctors must be competent to handle potentially life-threatening situations such as myocardial infarction (heart attack), stroke, sepsis, complicated pregnancies, and paediatric emergencies."
  • Pass Percentage: Despite the overall low pass percentage, the official noted that the pass percentage among first-time candidates—those more likely to have thoroughly prepared—was significantly higher. The attempt-wise data reveals:
    • First-time candidates: 35.74% pass rate
    • Second-time candidates: 21.45% pass rate
    • Candidates with over five attempts: 3.29% pass rate
  • In the December 2025 test, the pass rate among first-timers was 47.53%, compared to 5.58% for those with more than five attempts.