NEXT 1
Without a doubt, NEXT 1 will be the competitive entity among NEXT 1 & 2. It shall have two purposes - establishing that the aspirant is ready for internship & concluding whether he/she deserves to get a seat for medical PG. Reiterating, the former will merely need an aspirant to qualify, the latter will see cut-throat competition.

At the outset, we establish that the account given here is mostly based on speculation. However, our experts expect that this is how its format will be, with inconsequential variations.

Exam Pattern
NEXT 1 Exam pattern will have to be one with MCQs like the erstwhile MCI Screening Test/FMGE. Also, like the FMGE, NEXT 1 will have questions from the 19 subjects in the MBBS curriculum. This is where the resemblance will end.

To begin with, this exam in 2023 will have questions from the revised version of the MBBS curriculum, the Competency-based MBBS curriculum. This modified curriculum will generate a different pattern of questions as the core focus areas have shifted. To understand the new topic-wise outcomes, click here. (link to competency-based MBBS curriculum page)

Syllabus
Predicting the NEXT 1 Exam syllabus is not much of a challenge. As mentioned, all the 19 subjects in the MBBS curriculum can very much be question sources.

There is every probability that the exam may take place in 2 phases and that these phases would be Pre- & Para-Clinical subjects in Phase 1 and the Clinical subjects in Phase 2.

Just to confirm, the Pre-Clinical subjects are Anatomy, Biochemistry, & Physiology. The Para-Clinical subjects are Pharmacology, Microbiology, Pathology, Forensic Medicine, & Social and Preventive Medicine. Finally, the Clinical subjects are Medicine, Dermatology, & Venereology; Surgery, Orthopaedics, & Anaesthesia, Radiodiagnosis, Obstetrics & Gynaecology; Pediatrics, Ophthalmology, & ENT.