The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued a clarification on the eligibility criteria for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) 2025 for Indian students who pursued the Bachelor of Science (BS) course in medical institutes abroad. This update extends eligibility to certain students who took admission in the BS course through online mode before the publication of the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations, 2021 on 18 November 2021. Previously, the FMGE eligibility norms recognised only those BS students who studied in physical mode at foreign medical institutes. With the new clarification, the NMC has confirmed that students who were admitted either in online mode or physical mode before the FMGL Rules came into effect will also be eligible to appear in FMGE under the Screening Test Regulation, 2002.
Extended Eligibility Criteria for FMGE 2025
Under the updated interpretation, students who had taken admission into a BS medical course abroad, regardless of mode of study (online or physical), prior to 18 November 2021, will now be recognised under the earlier Screening Test Regulations. This one-time clarity applies only to students in this specific situation and will allow them to register for FMGE, an essential step towards medical registration in India. However, the updated criteria include changes to internship requirements for these candidates:
- BS course students covered under this notification will be required to complete an additional 1-year internship in India.
- Foreign medical graduates holding an MBBS or equivalent degree will be required to complete a 2-year internship as per existing norms.
These internship requirements are emphasised to ensure that all future practitioners gain adequate clinical exposure and familiarity with the Indian healthcare system, in alignment with national treatment protocols and standards of patient care.
FMGE 2025 and Next Steps
The FMGE exam for the December 2025 session is scheduled to be conducted on 17 January 2026 by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS). City slips for registered candidates have already been issued, and the exam will be held across 67 cities in India. Eligible candidates should prepare thoroughly, as passing FMGE remains a statutory requirement for foreign medical graduates seeking registration to practise medicine in India. The internship period following clearance plays a vital role in meeting Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) requirements, which are integral before obtaining full registration.
