The Medical Council of India Screening Test, also known as the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE), is a licensure examination conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE) in India.[1] The test is one of the mandatory requirements for an Indian citizen who has a medical degree from a college outside India to practice medicine in the country.[2] (teaching hospital). The screening test was introduced in 2002 as a qualifying examination for Indian students obtaining their medical degrees from countries other than India, such as countries belonging to the former Soviet Union,[3] Eastern European countries, China, Nepal, Philippines, and Caribbean countries. Indian doctors holding basic medical degrees from the above countries have to take the MCI screening test. The Medical School should have been listed in the WHO international directory of Medical Schools (Now The World Directory of Medical Schools). Candidates who qualify the Screening Test may apply to the National Medical Commission of India or to any Indian State Medical Council for provisional registration or permanent registration.[4]
The legality of the test was challenged in the Indian courts[5] and was upheld by the Supreme Court of India in 2009.[6] This test has generated controversy with accusations that it is unfair and lacks transparency—for example, not allowing examinees to retain their question paper after examination, or not showing the exact marks or answer sheet upon appeal for failure. An appeal petition filed under RTI India to reveal the marks of an appealing student was not granted.[7]
This examination is held twice in year in June and December on the third Monday and Tuesday of the month.
The National Medical Commission (which replaced the Medical Council of India in 2020) released draft regulations in 2021 on foreign medical graduates (FMGs) that amends the requirement for the Screening Test. Starting in 2022, overseas graduates will be required to qualify the new National Exit Test (NExT) in place of the Foreign Medical Graduate Exam (FMGE). Candidates intending to practice in India will have to clear NExT, within two years of completing their medical studies abroad. The draft regulation is expected to become official when published in the next gazette.[8] [9]