National Exit Test (NExT) To Be Held in October 2024, Future Tests To Be Held In Feb, August: NCISM

New Delhi: The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) has issued a notification regarding the conduct of the National Exit Test (NExT). According to the notification, the NExT is tentatively scheduled for October. Future NExT exams will be held twice a year, in February and August, 2025.

The NExT exam is essential for obtaining a license to practice as a medical practitioner in the respective disciplines of the Indian system of medicine. It is also necessary for enrollment as a registered medical practitioner after completing a one-year internship.

Candidates securing fifty percent and above in the National Exit Test will be declared qualified. The NCISM stated, “Those interns who have not completed their internship but qualified in the National Exit Test shall be eligible to register in State or National Registration boards only after completion of a one-year internship.”

NExT Exam Pattern

The NExT 2024 examination will be problem-based, testing clinical competency, understanding of medical ethics, and the ability to handle medico-legal cases. The questions may include images, videos, and clinical case scenarios. 

There will be 120 questions carrying the total of 480 marks. The duration of the exam will be 180 minutes. The questions will be objective (MCQ) in nature. There will be a negative marking of 1 mark per wrong answer.

Languages of Question Paper for NExT 2024
- Ayurveda: English and Hindi
- Unani: English and Urdu
- Siddha: English and Tamil
- Sowa-Rigpa: English and Bhot

NExT 2024 Eligibility Criteria

As per the official notification, an intern who has completed a minimum of 270 days of internship by the closing date can appear for the NExT 2024 exam. Graduates of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Sowa-Rigpa who have completed their one-year compulsory internship are also eligible.

The NCISM notice added that foreign nationals whose medical qualifications have been recognized under Schedule-3 of the IMCC Act, 1970, or Section 36 of the NCISM Act, 2020, are eligible to appear.

This significant update aims to streamline the process of licensing and registration for practitioners of the Indian system of medicine, ensuring a standard of competency and professionalism in the field.