Parliament Question: Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE)

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3222 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7THAUGUST, 2026 FOREIGN MEDICALGRADUATEEXAMINATION(FMGE) 3222.DR. TSUMATHYALIAS THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN: Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased tostate: (a)whether the Government hastaken cognizanceof complaintsabout the rising difficulty levelandlowpass ratesinthe recently conductedForeignMedical Graduate Examination (FMGE), if so, the detailsthereof; (b) whether the Government hasassessed whether the current examinationpattern,syllabus alignmentandquestion design are disproportionately affecting genuine foreignmedical graduates, if so, the detailsthereof; (c)the detailsof the steps the Government hastakenor planningtotake toimprove transparency, predictabilityandfairness inthe FMGE while maintainingstandards; (d) whether the Government proposes toundertake anyreviewof the FMGE framework in consultationwith the National Medical Commission andotherstakeholders; and (e)if so, the detailsthereof? ANSWER THE MINISTEROFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL) (a) to (e): The Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) is conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) in accordance with the provisions of the ScreeningTest RegulationsforForeignMedical Graduates(FMGs) seeking provisional or permanent registration with the National Medical Commission (NMC) or the respective State Medical Councils (SMCs). The pass rate in FMGE depends on multiple factors including the quality of medical education imparted, individual candidate's level of knowledge and performance inthe examination. The Syllabus for the FMGE comprises Subjects/Knowledge Areas as per the Competency based Undergraduate Curriculum published by NMC for the MBBS Course. Further, the questions for FMGE are developed through structured Question Banking and Item Writing workshops followed by Validation Workshops by a different group of subject experts. Each question is reviewed for content accuracy, relevance to the approved syllabus, reliability and validity. The overall process ensures that the examination maintainsthe expectedstandards ofMBBS graduate and assesses the knowledge and competence required for safe medical practiceinthe Indian healthcaresystem. The FMGE is conducted strictly in accordance with the notified regulations and prescribed qualifying criteria. Any changes relating to the eligibility criteria, syllabus or regulatory framework governing FMGs are considered by the NMC from time to time in accordance with the statutory provisions andstakeholder requirements. *****