FMGE January 17 exam: NBEMS allocates different exam cities via SMS and email, candidates left confused

With just over a fortnight left for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) scheduled on January 17, 2026, many candidates are dealing with uncertainty about a basic but critical detail: where they are supposed to appear for the exam.The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) declares FMGE exam city allotments in advance so that candidates can plan travel and accommodation in time. Traditionally, this information is communicated through both SMS and email, and both modes are expected to carry the same exam city details. This time, however, that alignment appears to have broken down.

What candidates are reporting

Over the past few days, candidates have reported receiving conflicting exam city information through official NBEMS communication channels.

In several cases, the exam city mentioned in the SMS differs from the one stated in the email. For example, some aspirants received Delhi as their exam city via SMS, while the email mentioned nearby centres such as Gurugram or Noida. In other instances, candidates report having received only an SMS and no email at all.

A smaller but worrying set of candidates say they received two different exam cities simultaneously, one through SMS and another through email.

The confusion has spilled into Reddit and X. Candidates are sharing screenshots of their messages and asking a simple question: where should they report on exam day. One post on X shows an email allotting an exam city in another state, while the SMS from NBEMS allots the same candidate a centre in Kolkata, West Bengal. The post has drawn attention from other aspirants facing similar mismatches, amplifying anxiety as the exam date approaches.

No official clarification yet

So far, NBEMS has not issued any official clarification specifically addressing the mismatch between SMS and email exam city intimations for FMGE January 2026. This silence has added to the uncertainty, particularly for candidates who would need to book long-distance travel or accommodation.What candidates need to understand, however, is that SMS and email notifications are only preliminary communications.

As per NBEMS norms, the FMGE admit card is the only document that officially confirms the exam city and the exact test centre address. The FMGE January 2026 admit cards are scheduled to be released on January 14, 2026.Until then, candidates are advised not to rely on SMS or email information for final travel planning. Booking tickets or accommodation based solely on these messages carries the risk of last-minute changes.

Candidates should regularly check the official National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences website for updates related to the FMGE December 2025 session examination.If, after downloading the admit card, any discrepancy is found in the exam city or centre details, candidates should immediately contact NBEMS through the official helpline or email support for clarification. There is no need to approach authorities before the admit card release, as such mismatches in early-stage communication are often resolved automatically in the final hall ticket.For now, the confusion remains unresolved, and candidates are left waiting for the one document that still holds final authority: the FMGE admit card.