SC Orders NBE To Conduct NEET-PG 2025 Exam In Single Shift To Ensure Fairness
Last Updated:
The Supreme Court has directed NBE to hold NEET-PG 2025 in a single shift, citing fairness and the need for equal difficulty levels. The exam is scheduled for June 15.
In a significant order aimed at ensuring fairness and transparency, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed the National Board of Examinations (NBE) to conduct the NEET-PG 2025 examination in a single shift. The exam is scheduled to be held on June 15.
The top court said that conducting the postgraduate medical entrance test in two shifts could lead to arbitrariness and affect the level playing field for aspirants.
A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sanjay Kumar, and Justice N.K. Anjaria passed the order while hearing a batch of petitions challenging the National Board of Examinations' (NBE) decision to conduct the NEET-PG 2025 examination in two shifts.
'Conducting the exam in two shifts results in arbitrariness and fails to provide a level playing field. The question papers across two shifts can never match in terms of difficulty. While last year it may have been held in two shifts due to specific circumstances at that time, the examining body should have made efforts to arrange for the examination to be held in a single shift this year," the Court observed in the order.
Rejecting the NBE's argument that insufficient centres were available to conduct the exam in a single shift, the Court observed: 'We are not ready to accept that in entire country and considering the technological advancements in this country, the examining body could not find enough centres to hold the examination and one shift."
Noting that more than two weeks remain before the exam date, the Supreme Court said the NBE has sufficient time to identify secure and credible exam centres to facilitate holding the test in a single shift. The court also directed the examining body to maintain full transparency and ensure proper arrangements are made for a smooth conduct of the examination.
This directive comes amid growing concerns among medical aspirants regarding the fairness of holding high-stakes exams like NEET-PG in multiple shifts, with varying levels of difficulty across question papers.
In 2024, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) announced the NEET PG results on August 23. Shortly thereafter, many candidates raised concerns about discrepancies in their results, alleging that improper normalisation had led to unexpectedly low ranks. Numerous aspirants cross-checked their answers with unofficial keys released by coaching institutes and pointed out inconsistencies, which further fuelled dissatisfaction with the multi-shift system.
First Published:
May 30, 2025, 13:12 IST
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Hindustan Times
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SC Orders NBE To Conduct NEET-PG 2025 Exam In Single Shift To Ensure Fairness
Last Updated: The Supreme Court has directed NBE to hold NEET-PG 2025 in a single shift, citing fairness and the need for equal difficulty levels. The exam is scheduled for June 15. In a significant order aimed at ensuring fairness and transparency, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed the National Board of Examinations (NBE) to conduct the NEET-PG 2025 examination in a single shift. The exam is scheduled to be held on June 15. The top court said that conducting the postgraduate medical entrance test in two shifts could lead to arbitrariness and affect the level playing field for aspirants. A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sanjay Kumar, and Justice N.K. Anjaria passed the order while hearing a batch of petitions challenging the National Board of Examinations' (NBE) decision to conduct the NEET-PG 2025 examination in two shifts. 'Conducting the exam in two shifts results in arbitrariness and fails to provide a level playing field. The question papers across two shifts can never match in terms of difficulty. While last year it may have been held in two shifts due to specific circumstances at that time, the examining body should have made efforts to arrange for the examination to be held in a single shift this year," the Court observed in the order. Rejecting the NBE's argument that insufficient centres were available to conduct the exam in a single shift, the Court observed: 'We are not ready to accept that in entire country and considering the technological advancements in this country, the examining body could not find enough centres to hold the examination and one shift." Noting that more than two weeks remain before the exam date, the Supreme Court said the NBE has sufficient time to identify secure and credible exam centres to facilitate holding the test in a single shift. The court also directed the examining body to maintain full transparency and ensure proper arrangements are made for a smooth conduct of the examination. This directive comes amid growing concerns among medical aspirants regarding the fairness of holding high-stakes exams like NEET-PG in multiple shifts, with varying levels of difficulty across question papers. In 2024, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) announced the NEET PG results on August 23. Shortly thereafter, many candidates raised concerns about discrepancies in their results, alleging that improper normalisation had led to unexpectedly low ranks. Numerous aspirants cross-checked their answers with unofficial keys released by coaching institutes and pointed out inconsistencies, which further fuelled dissatisfaction with the multi-shift system. First Published: May 30, 2025, 13:12 IST
