In a major relief for lakhs of aspiring postgraduate medical students, the Supreme Court of India on Friday directed that the NEET-PG 2025 examination, originally scheduled to be conducted in two shifts on June 15, must now be held in a single shift to ensure fairness and transparency across the board.
A three-judge bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath, along with Justices Sanjay Kumar and N V Anjaria, issued this significant order while hearing a plea filed by medical aspirant Aditi and others, who had challenged the two-shift format on grounds of potential unfairness.
“Two Papers Can Never Be Identical”: Supreme Court’s Firm Stand
The apex court, in its ruling, observed that conducting the NEET-PG exam in multiple shifts inherently creates arbitrariness due to the inevitable variation in difficulty levels of different question papers.
“Any two question papers can never be said to be having an identical level of difficulty or ease,” the bench said, emphasizing the importance of uniform assessment conditions for all candidates competing in a national-level exam.
The Court noted that allowing multiple shifts in such a high-stakes exam violates the principle of equal opportunity, potentially compromising the integrity of the competitive process.
Transparency and Fairness: The Need of the Hour
The Supreme Court has not only ordered a single shift exam but has also directed the National Board of Examinations (NBE) and concerned authorities to ensure complete transparency in the conduct of the exam. The bench urged all stakeholders to act with utmost responsibility and accountability to uphold the faith of candidates in the examination system.
This decision follows the Court’s recent judgment where it took strong action against seat-blocking practices in NEET-PG counselling and directed that raw scores, answer keys, and normalisation formulae be published for public scrutiny — a move widely hailed for promoting accountability in medical education.
The Petition: An Appeal for Equal Opportunity
The plea filed by Aditi and others, challenged the NBE’s notification of holding NEET-PG 2025 in two separate shifts. The petitioners argued that conducting the exam in multiple sessions could lead to disparities, given the variation in question paper difficulty, and therefore affect the final merit list unfairly.
The petition sought direction from the Court to ensure that the NEET-PG exam be conducted in a “just, fair, reasonable and equitable” manner — a sentiment that resonated strongly with the Court’s own principles on equality and justice.
Why This Matters for Medical Aspirants
NEET-PG is the gateway to postgraduate medical courses (MD/MS/Diploma) in India and is one of the most competitive and high-pressure entrance exams in the country. Each year, over 2 lakh candidates appear for a limited number of seats, making the need for a level playing field absolutely critical.
Past instances of conducting the exam in multiple shifts have often led to candidates raising doubts over the fairness of the evaluation system. Even with score normalization mechanisms in place, many aspirants have expressed dissatisfaction, pointing to unpredictable disparities in difficulty levels.
By mandating a single-shift format, the Supreme Court’s latest order is likely to restore confidence among candidates, reassuring them that their future will be determined on equal grounds.
What Happens Next?
With the Court’s order in place, the NBE is now expected to revise the existing schedule and logistical arrangements to accommodate all NEET-PG 2025 candidates in a single sitting. This will likely involve securing larger examination centers, optimizing infrastructure, and implementing more robust coordination among invigilators and exam officials.
So far, the NBE has not released an official statement in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling, but candidates are expecting an updated notification soon.
A Positive Step Towards Reform in Medical Education
This landmark ruling from the Supreme Court signals a broader move towards transparent, student-friendly reforms in India’s medical education system. In an era where aspirants are burdened not just with academic pressure but also systemic inconsistencies, this decision reaffirms that justice and fairness remain the cornerstone of India’s judiciary.
