NExT Exam: BAMS Students Request AYUSH Minister To Hold National Exit Test for 2019 Batch

The student pointed out that implementing NExt until the NCISM ensures uniform standards of education across all government and private Ayurvedic colleges in India will hamper proportion symmetry and equality. 

A Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) student under the National Integrated Medical Association Student Forum (NIMASF), Nagpur Branch has requested the AYUSH Minister to postpone the National Exit Test (NExT) for the 2019 batch. 

The student cited that as the National Medical Commission (NMC) has already postponed the NExT exam for MBBS students until further notice by the Union Health Ministry, the same shall be implemented for BAMS students as well. 

"As you may be aware, the introduction of the National Exit Test (NEXT) has been a topic of considerable discussion within the medical fraternity; hence, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has already deferred further advice from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare," the notification from NMC clarifies. 

Further, the students highlight that there shall be a joint exam consisting of AIAPGET and NExT exams. Two separate examinations will not only burden students but also the examination management process, as reported by Medical Dialogues. 

NExT Without Uniform Standards Obstructs Equality

The association further pointed out that implementing NExt until the NCISM ensures uniform standards of education across all government and private Ayurvedic colleges in India will affect the equal level playing field for all students. Due to this heterogeneity, a lot of PG seats remain vacant due to the low availability of the teacher-student ratio in Ayurveda colleges. 

NExT Mandatory for AYUSH Courses

The National Exit Test (NExT) exam has been made mandatory for AYUSH courses including BAMS as per the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (National Examinations for Indian System of Medicine) Regulations, 2023. As per the regulation, AYUSH NExT would be held for Unani, Sowarigpa, Siddha, and Ayurveda courses and without clearing the NExT exam, no student will be eligible to register in State Register or National Register. 

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