Official: NExT Exam Confirmed for AYUSH 2021-22 Batch; Tentative Date March 2027

The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) has officially confirmed that the National Exit Test (NExT) will be implemented starting with the 2021-22 academic batch.

This applies to students pursuing BAMS, BSMS, BUMS, BHMS and Sowa-Rigpa (BSRMS) who will be completing their internships in early 2027. The first-ever NExT for AYUSH is tentatively scheduled to be held in March 2027.

Unlike the previous system, this single exam will serve two critical roles. First, it is a mandatory Licentiate Exam, meaning students must pass it to get their permanent registration number to practice as doctors. Second, it replaces the current AIAPGET as the entrance test for postgraduate (MD/MS) admissions. Your score in NExT will directly determine your rank for PG counseling.

This move effectively ends the era of getting a license solely based on university final exams. Students currently in the 2021 batch must now prepare for a standardized, national-level assessment that focuses heavily on clinical knowledge.

While there have been protests from student bodies demanding a rollback, the NCISM has maintained that the exam is essential for standardizing the quality of AYUSH practitioners across India.