National Exit Test for Ayush: A New Milestone in Healthcare Education

Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav announced the implementation of the National Exit Test (NExT) for Ayush students from the 2021-22 academic session. This ensures a standardized examination for licensing and enrollment. A nationwide health campaign, ‘Desh Ka Prakriti Parikshan Abhiyan,’ was also unveiled to boost public interest in Ayurveda.

On Thursday, Union Minister of State for Ayush (Independent Charge) Prataprao Jadhav announced the commencement of the National Exit Test (NExT) for students of the 2021-22 academic session batch onward.

Jadhav stated that the decision was based on the recommendations of a committee set up to address student concerns. The committee, led by Professor Sanjeev Sharma, Vice Chancellor of the National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur, ensured that the NExT will apply to students under the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) and the National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH) Acts, 2020.

The National Exit Test is mandatory for licensing and enrollment after a one-year internship. Designed as a problem-based examination, it evaluates practical skills through clinical case scenarios, images, and videos. The initiative ensures quality in Ayush education and healthcare standards.

(With inputs from agencies.)