FMGE
Direct answer
The Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) is the licensing screening test that Indian citizens and Overseas Citizens of India who earned their medical degree abroad must pass before registering to practise in India. It is conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) under the mandate of the National Medical Commission (NMC). Preparation centres on a disciplined re-reading of the MBBS-level curriculum from an Indian perspective and extensive question practice.
About the exam
The FMGE is conducted by NBEMS as a computer-based screening test, twice a year, with sessions generally in June and December. A pass in the FMGE is a statutory requirement for Indian nationals and OCIs holding primary medical qualifications obtained outside India to obtain registration with the National Medical Commission or a State Medical Council; only registered graduates may practise or pursue postgraduate training in India. Candidates who have studied medicine abroad form the typical cohort. The examination dates, application windows and information bulletins are published by NBEMS, and the NMC's requirements, including its eligibility-certificate rules, apply alongside.
Exam pattern and marking
- Mode: computer-based test, held on a single day in two parts.
- Questions: 300 multiple-choice questions in total, split equally into Paper A and Paper B of 150 questions each.
- Duration: two hours and thirty minutes for each paper, on the same day.
- Marks: one mark per question, a total of 300; there is no negative marking.
- Pass criterion: at least 150 out of 300 (50 per cent); the result is declared as pass or fail without ranks.
- Language: English.
Syllabus overview
The FMGE syllabus is the MBBS curriculum as applicable to Indian medical graduates, and NBEMS publishes the subject-wise weightage in its information bulletin. The paper spans pre-clinical, para-clinical and clinical subjects. Pre-clinical coverage includes anatomy, physiology and biochemistry, with emphasis on clinically relevant detail. Para-clinical subjects include pathology, microbiology, pharmacology, forensic medicine and community medicine, the last of which carries substantial weight — national health programmes, biostatistics and communicable-disease control as taught in India. The clinical portion covers general medicine and its sub-specialities, general surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, orthopaedics, ophthalmology, otorhinolaryngology, dermatology, psychiatry, anaesthesiology, radiology and emergency medicine. Because candidates train abroad, the examination deliberately tests Indian guidelines, Indian drug names and national programmes, so preparation should use Indian textbooks and Indian question material rather than foreign review books alone. Previous papers show a strong tilt towards clinical application, image-based questions and management decisions.
How to prepare
- Re-anchor to the Indian MBBS standard. Read concise Indian textbooks and your own notes subject by subject, paying particular attention to community medicine, pharmacology and the clinical subjects, where the Indian perspective matters most.
- Practise questions daily. Work through subject-wise question banks and previous FMGE papers, learning the factual style of the paper and the topics that recur; since there is no negative marking, full attempting is the norm and coverage matters.
- Sit full-length mocks. Simulate both papers of 150 questions each on the same day to build the five-hour stamina the examination demands, and review every mock topic by topic.
- Revise in compressed cycles. Prepare short notes for volatile material — drug doses, programme targets, investigations and diagnostic criteria — and revise them repeatedly in the final weeks.
Preparation with PrepElephant
PrepElephant supports FMGE preparation with previous-year question practice, question banks, mock tests and revision tools in the PrepElephant app, along with free guides and resources on this website. The examination is conducted by NBEMS, and notifications, applications and results should always be confirmed through official NBEMS channels.
After the exam
A pass in the FMGE makes a foreign medical graduate eligible to complete the compulsory rotating medical internship in India, where required, and then to seek permanent registration with the National Medical Commission or a State Medical Council. Registered graduates may practise as doctors in India and may appear for postgraduate entrance examinations such as NEET-PG, and those who do not pass may reappear in a subsequent session, with no limit on attempts under the current rules.
Qualifications this exam leads to
Frequently asked questions
Who needs to take the FMGE?
Indian citizens and Overseas Citizens of India who have obtained their primary medical qualification outside India must pass the FMGE to obtain registration to practise in India. The requirement flows from the mandate of the National Medical Commission.
What qualification makes me eligible?
Candidates must hold a primary medical degree from an institution outside India that is recognised for this purpose, and must satisfy the documentary requirements, including the NMC eligibility-certificate rules where applicable, published in the NBEMS bulletin.
How many times can I attempt the FMGE?
There is no restriction on the number of attempts under the current rules; candidates who do not pass may reappear in the June or December session after re-registering.
What is the passing score?
A candidate must secure at least 150 marks out of 300. The examination has no negative marking, so attempting every question carries no penalty.
Is the FMGE difficult?
The paper is anchored to the Indian MBBS curriculum, so graduates who studied abroad often need deliberate re-orientation to Indian guidelines and drug names. Structured preparation with question practice is the reliable approach.
What subjects are most important?
Clinical subjects carry the largest share, with community medicine, pharmacology and pathology also heavily represented, and the subject-wise distribution is published in the NBEMS bulletin before each session.
When is the FMGE held and how do I apply?
The examination is conducted twice a year, generally in June and December. Exact dates are announced by NBEMS, and applications are submitted online through the NBEMS portals.
What happens after I pass?
Passing the FMGE makes you eligible for the compulsory rotating medical internship in India, where required, followed by registration with the NMC or a State Medical Council, after which you may practise or sit for NEET-PG.
Is FMGE the same as NEET-PG?
No. FMGE is a pass-or-fail licensing screening test for foreign medical graduates, while NEET-PG is a competitive ranking examination for admission to MD, MS and diploma courses.
Does PrepElephant cover the FMGE?
Yes. PrepElephant offers previous-year question practice, question banks, mock tests and revision tools for the FMGE in the app, along with free guides and resources on this website.
Official sources
nbe.edu.in natboard.edu.in
Practise this in the PrepElephant app
Question banks, previous-year questions, mock tests and revision tools — for Foreign Medical Graduate Examination. Free to start.