Quick Read
- FMGE January 2026 results are expected to be announced by February 17, 2026.
- The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) will release results on natboard.edu.in.
- Candidates must score a minimum of 150 out of 300 marks to qualify for the exam.
- The FMGE exam was conducted on January 17, 2026.
- Qualified candidates will receive pass certificates and provisional registration certificates for medical practice in India.
NEW DELHI (Azat TV) – The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) is poised to announce the results for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) January 2026 session in the coming weeks. Candidates who appeared for the crucial screening test, held on January 17, 2026, are advised to monitor the official NBEMS website, natboard.edu.in, for updates. The results are widely anticipated to be released by February 17, 2026, marking a pivotal moment for thousands of foreign medical graduates seeking to practice medicine in India.
Expected Release Date and Access
The NBEMS has indicated that the FMGE January 2026 results will be published in PDF format on its official website, natboard.edu.in. While an exact time for the release has not been specified, several reports, including from Careers360 and News18, point to an expected announcement around February 17, 2026. Candidates will need to access the PDF document and search for their roll numbers to ascertain their scores out of 300 and their qualifying status.
To qualify for the FMGE, candidates must secure a minimum of 150 marks, representing 50% of the total score. This qualifying threshold is uniform across all candidates, as the FMGE functions as a screening test rather than a competitive examination with category-wise cutoffs. The result PDF will contain essential details such as the candidate’s roll number, application ID, total marks obtained, and a clear indication of whether they have qualified.
Understanding the FMGE and Its Significance
The FMGE is a mandatory licensing examination for Indian citizens and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) who have obtained their primary medical qualification from institutions outside India. Passing this examination is a prerequisite for provisional or permanent registration with the National Medical Commission (NMC) or any State Medical Council, which is necessary to undertake an internship or practice medicine in India.
The examination consists of 300 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) delivered in English via a computer-based test (CBT) format. It is divided into two parts, each with 150 questions, covering a broad spectrum of medical subjects including Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pathology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Forensic Medicine, Ophthalmology, ENT, Community Medicine, Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, and Orthopaedics. Each correct answer carries one mark, and notably, there is no negative marking for incorrect responses, a policy that allows candidates to attempt all questions without fear of penalty.
Path Forward for Qualified Candidates
Upon successfully qualifying the FMGE January 2026 session, candidates will be issued a pass certificate and a provisional registration certificate. These documents are crucial for the subsequent registration process with the NMC or respective state medical councils. Candidates must collect their pass certificates in person from the NBEMS office on specified dates, as these are not published online. Following verification and registration, qualified individuals become eligible to pursue further medical training, such as the NEET PG examination, or begin practicing medicine in India.
For those who do not achieve the minimum qualifying marks, the NBEMS offers multiple opportunities to reappear. The FMGE is conducted twice a year, typically in June and December sessions, allowing candidates to reattempt the examination in subsequent cycles.
Historical Context and Challenges
The FMGE has historically been characterized by a low pass rate, reflecting the rigorous standards set for medical practice in India. For instance, in the June 2025 session, out of 36,034 candidates who appeared, only 6,707 qualified, resulting in a pass percentage of 18.61%. This figure highlights the significant challenges faced by foreign medical graduates in meeting the required benchmarks. Previous years have seen even lower pass rates, with a nadir of 10.20% in June 2023, as reported by Shiksha. The consistently low pass rates underscore the intense competition and the high bar for entry into the Indian medical profession.
Amid discussions about potential reforms, the National Medical Commission (NMC) had considered replacing the FMGE with the National Exit Test (NExT). However, recent updates confirm that the implementation of NExT has been postponed for an estimated three to four years, ensuring that the FMGE will continue to serve as the primary screening examination for foreign medical graduates for the foreseeable future.
The anticipated release of the FMGE January 2026 results holds significant implications for the Indian healthcare system, as it determines the entry of a new cohort of foreign-trained doctors into the workforce. The persistently low pass rates also highlight a critical bottleneck in integrating these graduates, necessitating ongoing evaluation of curriculum alignment and preparatory resources to better equip candidates for this essential screening.