What is NEXT?

NEXT is a national level exit exam after MBBS that will standardize the quality of general medical professionals who graduate to clinical practice. It is also intended to serve as the national level PG entrance examination for MBBS graduates.While this concept is similar to examinations in other countries (like the USMLE in the United States), it has a short implementation window of 3 years and a cloud of doubt hanging over it. No matter the outcome of the bill, NEXT will not replace NEET-PG straight away. With any new test launch, a huge volume of work is required to roll out the new test, hence the inevitable delay between announcement and launch. Many issues need to be resolved before one exam can replace another.