FMGE October 2026 Results: Pass Rate Rises to 22.87%

The Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) October 2026 results show a notable improvement in the qualifying rate compared with the June session, offering some relief to foreign-trained medical graduates who struggled with the earlier examination. A total of 9,354 candidates qualified in October, taking the pass percentage to approximately 22.87% among candidates whose results were declared as either pass or fail.

The improvement is significant compared with the June 2026 session, when the qualifying rate was approximately 12.77%. However, the latest figures also reveal that 31,539 candidates failed to clear the screening test. In other words, more than three out of every four candidates with a declared result did not meet the qualifying requirement.

The October examination was particularly important because it was conducted as an additional, third FMGE session in 2026. The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) announced the extra examination following protests over the June results, when candidates raised concerns about the difficulty of the question paper, video-based questions and examination conditions.

Although the October pass rate is considerably higher, the outcome does not establish that the concerns raised by candidates have been resolved. The latest results provide another opportunity for thousands of foreign medical graduates to qualify, but the consistently low pass percentages highlight the continuing challenges associated with the screening examination.

FMGE October 2026 Results: How Many Candidates Passed?

According to the October 2026 result data released by NBEMS, 9,354 candidates qualified for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination, while 31,539 failed to secure the required marks.

The result document also recorded 1,190 candidates as absent, while the results of 30 candidates were withheld. The pass percentage of approximately 22.87% is calculated using the 40,893 candidates whose results were declared as either pass or fail.

The key figures from the October examination are:

• Candidates who qualified: 9,354.
• Candidates who failed: 31,539.
• Candidates absent: 1,190.
• Results withheld: 30.
• Pass percentage: Approximately 22.87%.
• Examination date: October 31, 2026.

The figures show that the number of candidates who failed was more than three times the number who passed. Despite the improvement from June, the majority of foreign medical graduates appearing for the examination continued to fall short of the qualifying standard.

Candidates are required to score at least 150 marks out of 300 to qualify for FMGE. The examination is a screening test for eligible foreign medical graduates seeking registration to practise medicine in India.

FMGE Pass Percentage: October 2026 Compared With June 2026

The most noticeable change in the October results is the improvement over the June session. The June 2026 examination recorded a pass percentage of approximately 12.77%, with 4,635 candidates qualifying out of 36,300 who appeared.

In October, 9,354 candidates qualified, and the pass percentage increased to approximately 22.87%. This represents an improvement of about 10.1 percentage points compared with June.

The number of successful candidates also more than doubled between the two sessions. However, the October examination was an additional opportunity rather than a direct replacement for the June session, so the difference should be understood in the context of separate examination attempts.

The historical comparison shows that FMGE pass percentages have fluctuated considerably. The qualifying rate fell to 10.44% in June 2023 before recovering above 20% in June 2024. It then declined again in June 2025 and June 2026.

The October 2026 result is therefore among the stronger outcomes in the recent June-session comparison. However, it does not represent an unprecedented pass rate, as the June 2021 qualifying percentage was higher at 24.86%.

The figures also underline why a single examination session cannot establish a long-term improvement in candidate performance. A more meaningful assessment would require results from subsequent sessions and a closer examination of the factors influencing pass rates.

Why Did FMGE Candidates Protest After the June 2026 Results?

The June 2026 FMGE results triggered protests among foreign medical graduates, with candidates questioning the examination’s difficulty and the evaluation process. Demonstrations took place in Delhi, including in the Gautam Nagar area, as unsuccessful candidates demanded action from the examination authorities.

One of the major concerns involved the introduction of video-based questions. Candidates alleged that they had not received adequate advance information about the format and were therefore unprepared for the additional demands it placed on them during the examination.

Unlike conventional text-based questions, video-based questions require candidates to watch clinical recordings, understand the information presented and then evaluate the available answer choices. Candidates argued that this process consumed additional time in an examination where the average time available was approximately one minute per question.

They also raised concerns about the overall difficulty of the paper, examination-centre conditions and the transparency of the evaluation process. The low qualifying percentage intensified dissatisfaction, particularly among candidates who believed the examination format had changed without sufficient preparation or communication.

Some protesters demanded compensatory marks, a reduction in the qualifying cut-off and a review of the June examination. The agitation included a hunger strike as candidates sought intervention from the authorities.

Why Did NBEMS Introduce an Additional Third FMGE Examination?

Following discussions with protesting candidates, NBEMS announced an additional FMGE examination by the end of October 2026. The decision gave foreign medical graduates another opportunity to qualify without waiting for the next regular examination cycle.

The additional session was an important development because FMGE had traditionally been conducted twice a year. The decision to move towards three examinations annually also reduces the waiting period for candidates who fail an attempt and need another opportunity.

The October examination was consequently conducted as the third FMGE session of 2026. It took place on October 31, providing candidates with an additional chance to meet the screening requirements following the controversy surrounding the June results.

The higher October pass rate may be encouraging for candidates who appeared in the additional session. However, the improvement alone does not establish that the extra examination was easier or that the concerns raised after June directly influenced the outcome.

The two sessions involved different examination attempts, and their pass percentages should be compared as reported results rather than treated as proof of a particular change in question-paper difficulty.

Did Authorities Reduce the FMGE Qualifying Cut-Off or Award Grace Marks?

No reduction in the qualifying standard or compensatory marks was announced as part of the response to the June 2026 protests described in the examination-related developments.

Candidates had sought relief through measures such as additional marks and a lower cut-off, arguing that the examination’s difficulty and the introduction of video-based questions had affected their performance. However, the authorities maintained that the minimum qualifying requirement could not simply be lowered.

The FMGE is intended to assess whether foreign-trained medical graduates meet the required standard before they can pursue registration to practise medicine in India. The National Medical Commission (NMC) defended the use of clinical questions, stating that they were intended to assess practical clinical understanding rather than only theoretical recall.

The qualifying requirement remains 150 marks out of 300. The October results therefore reflect candidates meeting the established threshold, rather than a general relaxation of the passing standard.

NBEMS has also clarified that there is no provision for re-evaluation, rechecking, re-totaling or the award of grace marks under the examination’s result process. Candidates should rely on official NBEMS notices for any further instructions concerning their results and certificates.

Why the October Pass Rate Improvement Does Not Resolve FMGE’s Larger Challenge

The increase from approximately 12.77% in June to 22.87% in October is encouraging, particularly for candidates who qualified in the additional session. However, the broader figures show that FMGE remains difficult for a substantial proportion of foreign medical graduates.

More than 31,000 candidates failed in October, demonstrating that the higher pass rate did not translate into a majority of candidates qualifying. The result also raises broader questions about preparation, clinical training, examination readiness and the transition from Medical Education in other countries to India’s screening requirements.

FMGE candidates may have completed their primary medical qualifications overseas under different academic systems and clinical training arrangements. The screening examination assesses whether they meet the required standard for the Indian registration pathway, making preparation for its syllabus and question format particularly important.

The introduction of video-based questions has also brought attention to the role of clinical reasoning in the examination. If candidates are expected to interpret clinical recordings, they need to understand the format and develop the skills required to answer such questions within the available time.

At the same time, the examination authorities face the responsibility of communicating changes clearly and maintaining a transparent assessment process. Better information about examination formats can help candidates prepare appropriately and reduce uncertainty.

The move to three annual examination sessions may reduce the pressure associated with waiting for another attempt. However, more frequent examinations alone cannot address every concern about candidate preparation, question design or the overall screening process.

What Happens After the FMGE October 2026 Result?

Candidates who qualified in the October 2026 examination will need to follow the subsequent NBEMS procedures for obtaining their FMGE pass certificates. The result PDF provides the qualifying status, while individual scorecards are issued separately.

NBEMS has indicated that individual scorecards for the October examination will be available for download from November 20, 2026, onwards through its official website. Candidates should check the examination portal for the latest instructions and preserve their scorecards for future reference.

Qualifying the FMGE is an important step, but candidates must also complete the applicable certificate and registration procedures. The online scorecard should not be treated as a substitute for the FMGE pass certificate required for the subsequent registration process.

Successful candidates should therefore monitor official NBEMS announcements regarding certificate distribution and identity verification. They should also follow the relevant requirements of the medical registration authorities.

FMGE October 2026 Results: What the Numbers Really Show

The October 2026 FMGE results offer a clear improvement over the June session, with the qualifying percentage rising from approximately 12.77% to 22.87%. The number of candidates who passed also increased from 4,635 in June to 9,354 in October.

However, the latest figures should be interpreted carefully. The October examination was an additional session introduced after candidate protests, and more than 31,500 candidates still failed to qualify. The improvement is meaningful for those who cleared the test, but it does not establish a sustained recovery in FMGE performance.

The decision to conduct three examinations annually gives foreign medical graduates more frequent opportunities to qualify. Whether this change leads to better outcomes over time will depend on future results, candidate preparation and the consistency of the examination process.

For now, the October figures offer a more positive picture than June, but they also reinforce the scale of the challenge facing foreign medical graduates seeking to practise medicine in India.