The National Board of Education (NBE) is going to conduct Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) on June 18, 2021, as per schedule. Students can download FMGE admit card from the official website, nbe.edu.in. The Board has also issued guidelines and SOPS to conduct the national level exam amidst COVID-19.
As per the official notice, the timely conduct of the FMGE 2021 Exam will enable foreign medical graduates to get registered with the state medical council. They will help India to battle against COVID-19. In view of declining cases across the nation, the Board has decided to not defer the exam. It will be held as per schedule on June 18 2021 as per issued SOPS and guidelines.
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To maintain the social distancing, Board has increased the number of test centres and testing seats across the country. This will help to minimise the chances of students travelling needs. Moreover, FMGE Admit Card includes COVID E-Pass for the FMGE exam. Students will be admitted to the test centres as per the time slots assigned in the admit card only. To the exam centre, all candidates have to carry a negative report of COVID-19 RT-PCR/RAT/CBNAAT/TrueNAT test done within 72 hours prior to the exam date (not before June 15, 2021).
At the entry gate, all the candidates with COVID negative report are checked for recording temperature using thermo guns. Those who produce a negative report but the temperature is above normal level have to take the exam at isolation labs. It is mandatory for all students and officials to wear protective face masks. Other than this, all the students will get a protective gear safety kit comprising of a face shield, face mask and 5 hand sanitiser sachets. Upon completion of exam, students will be directed to leave the centre in a staggered manner.
However, the conduct of FMGE Exam 2021 has faced backlash from medical students. The Association of MD Physicians on Wednesday has urged Delhi High Court to issue direction to postponed FMGE exam. Albeit, Delhi High Court has rejected that plea. On Friday, June 11, 2021, NBE has issued SOPs and Guidelines for the exam on the website.
Students are questioning the decision by NBE and HC as the second wave of COVID-19 is still not under control. A tweet states the NBE is forcing 18,000 medical students to appear for the exam. Another student has shared that he is ready to take the exam and has booked train tickets. But his COVID-19 e-pass is valid from June 17 and he has to travel from June 16 which is inconvenient. Candidates are still demanding the postponement of the FMGE exam.