Lok Sabha Question No. 3660 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-16
Subject: Screening Test for Study in Foreign Countries
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: RAJESH KUMAR DIWAKAR, K. ASHOK KUMAR, DEVJI MANSINGRAM PATEL, CHANDU LAL SAHU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3660 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 TH MARCH, 2018

## SCREENING TEST FOR S TUDY IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES

## 3660. SHRI RAJESH KUMAR DIWAKER:

SHRI K. ASHOK KUMAR:

SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

SHRI CHANDU LAL SAHU:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to amend Screening Test Regulations, 2002 and the Eligibility  Requirement  making  it ma ndatory  for  Indian  students  to  qualify National Eligibility - cum - entrance Test (NEET) to pursue medical course in foreign countries;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the number of students likely to be affected by the decision;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  made any  provision  for  the  students  who  are already studying abroad and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether over the past many years the pass percentage of students appearing in Foreign Medical Graduate Exam ( FMGE) is very low; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND

FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL )

(a) to (c): As  per  section  13(4B)  of  the  Indian  Medical  Council  Act,  1956,  India students  desirous  to get  admission  in  a  medical  institute  abroad  have  to  obtain  Eligibi Certificate from the MCI. Further, such persons who have obtained medical degree from institution abroad and desirous to get permanent or provisional registration with MCI M edical Council have to qualify a Screening Test i.e. FMGE.

It has come to notice of the Ministry that medical institutions / Universities o countries  admit  Indian  students  without  proper  assessment  or  screening  of  the  students' academic ability to cop e up with medical education which results that many students fail to qualify the Screening Test.

Accordingly, MCI with theprior approval of the Central Government has amended Screening Test Regulations, 2002 and the Eligibility Requirement for Taki ng Admission in an Undergraduate Medical Course in a Foreign Medical Institution Regulations, 2002 for mak it  mandatory  for  the  Indian  students to  qualify  National -Eligibility -cum -Entrance (NEET) to pursue foreign medical course .The result of NEE T shall be deemed to be treated as the Eligibility Certificate for such persons, pr ovided that such persons fulfill the eligibility criteria for admission to the MBBS course prescribed in the Regulations on Graduate Me Education, 1997.

The provision s of the said regulations are being implemented prospectively i.e. Ma -2018. Thus, the students who have already gone abroad to pursue primary medical course taking Eligibility Certificate from MCI are exempted from qualifying NEET.

(d) & (e): As perthe information provided by National Board of Examinations (NBE), the pass percentage in the FMGE in the last 10 sessions is as under: -

|   Sr. No. | Session   |   Passing percentage |
|-----------|-----------|----------------------|
|         1 | Mar - 13  |                29.15 |
|         2 | Sep - 13  |                16.65 |
|         3 | Jun - 14  |                 4.93 |
|         4 | Dec - 14  |                20    |
|         5 | Jun - 15  |                10.4  |
|         6 | Dec - 15  |                12.2  |
|         7 | Jun - 16  |                11.22 |
|         8 | Dec - 16  |                 8.08 |
|         9 | Jun - 17  |                 7.41 |
|        10 | Dec - 17  |                13.89 |