National Exit Exam Made Mandatory for AYUSH Students
The Ministry of AYUSH has officially announced that the National Exit Test (NeXT) will be applicable to students admitted from the academic year 2021–22 onwards in AYUSH institutions across the country.
In a notification issued, the ministry confirmed that the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) and the National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH) will be responsible for conducting the NeXT examination. The decision, taken with the approval of the competent authority, mandates both commissions to take necessary steps for its smooth implementation.
The NeXT examination is designed to serve as a uniform exit test, ensuring standardization in assessment for graduates in Indian systems of medicine and homoeopathy. It will play a crucial role in determining eligibility for practice, higher education, and registration. The move aligns AYUSH education with broader reforms already initiated in modern medical education, aiming to bring parity and quality benchmarks across systems of medicine.
The order was signed by Madan Lal Meena, Under Secretary to the Government of India, and circulated to the heads of NCISM and NCH for immediate action.
