Foreign Medical Graduate Exam Pass Rate Drops Sharply to 12.4% Amid Protests

When the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences released the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination results for June 2026, the pass rate fell sharply to 12.4%, sparking nationwide student protests and intense scrutiny.

What Happened

Candidates faced sudden structural shifts in the exam, including unfamiliar video-based questions, lengthy time-consuming formats, and unseen diagrams. Dr. Kshitij Anand noted that the questions left little time to think. Dr. Samar Kumar of the Federation of All India Medical Association pointed out that multiple test centres suffered from inadequate facilities, such as a lack of coolers, fans, and drinking water during the five-hour exam. Students also protested in Delhi's Gautam Nagar demanding compensation for the sudden format changes, but the board denied the demand.

Reaction

Critics and doctors highlighted a lack of institutional transparency, noting that the board does not disclose question papers and answer keys. Professor Dr. Karan Juneja of the IMA Junior Doctors' Network stated that the screening test now matches the difficult standard of the NEET-PG exam. Meanwhile, Dr. Anjali Ayappan from Kochi criticized the tight scheduling, stating that two months is not enough preparation time and that bringing the next exam forward to October burdens June pass-outs.

Context

Foreign medical graduates often face unique hurdles because overseas medical universities do not cover India-specific administrative topics like local health committees and civic public health schemes. Beyond the exam itself, graduates must navigate a long administrative process, with many waiting years and facing a shortage of internship posts before obtaining permanent registration to practice in India.