New Delhi: Candidates who appeared for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), the qualifying examination required for foreign medical graduates to practise medicine in India, have launched protests demanding grace marks and changes to the examination system.
The candidates who appeared for the June FMGE session are leading the protest after an exceptionally low pass percentage was reported. Out of 37,448 candidates who appeared for the examination, only 12.38% qualified.
The protesting candidates claim that the low pass rate was partly due to the difficulty level of the examination and other examination-related concerns. They are demanding reforms in the structure and conduct of the FMGE.
The examination is conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS). Following concerns raised by candidates, NBEMS reportedly constituted a committee to examine the issues. However, candidates say their major concerns have still not been resolved.
The committee recommended measures such as improving facilities at examination centres and conducting the FMGE three times a year. However, the candidates’ key demand for awarding grace marks to those who appeared in the June examination was not accepted.
This has led to renewed protests. Candidates have demonstrated outside the NBEMS office in New Delhi, demanding immediate intervention.
According to the protesting foreign medical graduates, the June examination contained unusually difficult questions. They are therefore requesting the authorities to either award grace marks or reduce the existing 50% qualifying cut-off for the examination.
The candidates argue that appropriate relief should be considered because the examination result affects the careers of thousands of foreign-trained medical graduates who are waiting to obtain eligibility to practise medicine in India.
The issue is now drawing attention from the medical graduate community, with candidates continuing to seek a favourable decision from the examination authorities.
