How Delhi's Gautam Nagar became the 'FMGE coaching hub'

Thousands of foreign medical graduates flock to this South Delhi locality, a long walk from AIIMS, to prepare for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination

- Sanjay

Vasu Goyal, from Roorkee Uttarakhand, earned his MBBS from Ukraine’s Dnipro State Medical University in March 2022. He sat for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) for the first time in July 2023 and again, in January 2024.

“I could not clear the FMGE on the first attempt. I scored just 84 out of 300 as I could not see the questions properly on the computer screen. I had undergone an operation and was unwell at the time. In my second attempt, I scored 94 out of 300,” he said. He must try again.

Following suggestions from seniors and relatives, Goyal enrolled in a coaching centre at Delhi’s Gautam Nagar. He came to this “FMGE coaching hub” in February and joined Dr Bhatia Medical Coaching Institute (DBMCI). He paid Rs 20,000 for six months, lower than the usual Rs. 30,000 as he was among the top 10 students enrolled. He spends around Rs 15,000 in a month to meet other expenses and accommodation.

In an extraordinarily regimented life, Goyal wakes up at 6 am to revise and get ready for classes that start at 8 am and end at 8 pm. After that, dinner and another round of “self-study”, from 10 pm to midnight, before sleep.

“Gautam Nagar challenges you to give your best,” he said. “It has students from all over the country preparing for the FMGE. I am loving the environment here and hoping to clear the examination in June.”

Most students fail