NEET PG 2025 to be Conducted in a Single Shift: Supreme Court Ruling

Introduction

The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET-PG) 2025, a critical examination for medical aspirants seeking admission to postgraduate medical courses in India, has been at the center of a significant legal development. On May 30, 2025, the Supreme Court of India issued a landmark directive mandating that the NEET-PG 2025 examination, scheduled for June 15, 2025, be conducted in a single shift instead of the previously planned two-shift format. This decision, aimed at ensuring fairness, transparency, and uniformity in the examination process, addresses long-standing concerns raised by medical aspirants and educators regarding the potential arbitrariness of a multi-shift system. This write-up provides a detailed overview of the Supreme Court’s ruling, the background of the case, the arguments presented, and the implications for stakeholders.

Background

The NEET-PG examination, conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), is a national-level entrance test for admission to postgraduate medical courses such as MD, MS, and PG Diploma programs across India. In April 2025, the NBEMS announced that NEET-PG 2025 would be conducted on June 15, 2025, in two shifts (9:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 3:30 PM to 7:00 PM) using a computer-based testing platform. This decision sparked significant opposition from candidates and medical associations, who argued that a two-shift format could lead to disparities in question paper difficulty, thereby compromising fairness and violating candidates’ rights to equality under Article 14 and the right to a fair examination under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.

The controversy surrounding the two-shift format was not new. The NEET-PG 2024 examination, also conducted in two shifts, faced similar criticism, with candidates alleging that the second shift’s question paper was easier, leading to perceived unfairness in the normalization process used to equate scores across shifts. These concerns culminated in litigation before the Supreme Court, with aspirants demanding transparency in the form of published raw scores, answer keys, and normalization formulas. The dissatisfaction with the 2024 examination prompted multiple petitions, including those filed by Dr. Aditi and the United Doctors’ Front (UDF), challenging the NBEMS’s decision to continue the two-shift format for NEET-PG 2025.

Supreme Court Proceedings

The Supreme Court’s involvement began in early May 2025 when a bench comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan issued notices to the NBEMS, the National Medical Commission (NMC), and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in response to a writ petition challenging the two-shift notification dated April 16, 2025. The petition, filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, argued that conducting NEET-PG in two shifts created an unequal playing field due to potential variations in question paper difficulty and a lack of transparency in the normalization process. The petitioners sought a directive to conduct the examination in a single shift to ensure “just, fair, reasonable, and equitable” competition.

As the exam date approached, the urgency of the matter intensified. On May 26, 2025, the petitioners’ counsel urged the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih, for an expedited hearing, noting that admit cards were set to be issued on June 2, 2025. The court assured a swift listing, and the matter was heard on May 30, 2025, by a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sanjay Kumar, and N.V. Anjaria.

Arguments Presented

Petitioners’ Arguments:

• Unfairness Due to Difficulty Variations: The petitioners, including Dr. Aditi and the UDF, contended that no two question papers could have identical difficulty levels, making it impossible to ensure fairness across shifts. They cited the NEET-PG 2024 experience, where candidates alleged that the second shift’s paper was easier, potentially disadvantaging those in the first shift.
• Normalization Concerns: The normalization process, intended to adjust scores for varying difficulty levels, was criticized as non-transparent and flawed. Candidates argued that it failed to adequately address disparities, impacting rankings critical to their career prospects.
• Constitutional Violations: The two-shift format was said to violate Article 14 (right to equality) by creating unequal evaluation standards and Article 21 (right to life and personal liberty) by undermining the right to a fair examination process.
• Precedent of Single-Shift Exams: The petitioners highlighted that NEET-PG has traditionally been a single-shift, single-day examination, ensuring uniform conditions. They also noted that the NEET-UG examination, with a significantly larger candidate pool (approximately 10 lakh candidates compared to 2.42 lakh for NEET-PG 2025), is conducted in a single shift, suggesting that logistical challenges could be overcome.

NBEMS’s Defense:

• Logistical Constraints: The NBEMS, represented by Senior Advocate Maninder Acharya, argued that conducting the exam in a single shift was infeasible due to limited examination centers with adequate infrastructure, such as high-speed internet, secure computers, and Wi-Fi. They claimed that the two-shift format was necessary to accommodate the 2.42 lakh candidates.
• Normalization as a Solution: The NBEMS defended the normalization process, asserting that it effectively adjusted scores to account for difficulty variations, ensuring fairness across shifts.
• Risk of Malpractice: The authorities argued that a single-shift exam could increase the risk of malpractices, as it would require managing a large number of candidates simultaneously.
• Impact on Academic Schedule: The NBEMS cautioned that altering the exam format close to the scheduled date could disrupt the academic calendar, delaying admissions and affecting candidates.

Supreme Court’s Observations and Ruling

On May 30, 2025, the Supreme Court delivered a decisive ruling in favor of the petitioners, directing the NBEMS to conduct NEET-PG 2025 in a single shift. The key observations and directives were:

• Arbitrariness of Two-Shift Format: The bench, led by Justice Vikram Nath, observed that conducting the exam in two shifts “invariably enables arbitrariness” and fails to provide a level playing field. The court emphasized that “no two question papers can ever be said to be at an identical level of difficulty or ease,” inherently creating disparities.
• Rejection of Logistical Constraints: The court dismissed the NBEMS’s argument about insufficient examination centers, stating, “We are not ready to accept that in the entire country, considering the technological advancements we have achieved, the examining body cannot find sufficient number of centres to hold the examination in one shift.” The bench noted that the NEET-UG examination, with a larger candidate pool, is conducted in a single shift, setting a precedent.
• Normalization Not a Routine Solution: The court criticized the routine use of normalization, stating, “Normalization may be applied in exceptional cases but not in a routine manner year after year.” This underscored the need for a structural solution rather than reliance on post-exam adjustments.
• Financial Resources: The court pointed out that the NBEMS collects substantial examination fees (₹3,500 for general category candidates and ₹2,500 for SC/ST/PwD candidates), providing sufficient funds to secure additional centers and invigilators.
• Time for Adjustments: With over two weeks until the exam date, the court directed the NBEMS to make necessary logistical arrangements, such as identifying secure centers and deploying additional resources, to ensure a smooth single-shift examination.
• Emphasis on Transparency: The bench reiterated the need for transparency, directing the NBEMS to maintain fairness and disclose raw scores, answer keys, and any normalization formulas, building on previous court directives issued in response to NEET-PG 2024 concerns.

The court also addressed the NBEMS’s concerns about potential disruptions, with Justice Nath firmly stating, “Don’t give such threats that the whole year will go,” emphasizing that the authorities had ample time to comply.

Implications of the Ruling

The Supreme Court’s directive has far-reaching implications for the NEET-PG 2025 examination and its stakeholders:

• For Candidates: The single-shift format addresses candidates’ concerns about fairness, eliminating the risk of varying question paper difficulties and opaque normalization processes. Aspirants, such as Rashi Yadav, who expressed fears that “even one mark can push the ranking down by thousands of places,” welcomed the ruling as a step toward equitable evaluation. The decision is expected to restore trust among the 2.42 lakh candidates registered for NEET-PG 2025.
• For NBEMS: The NBEMS faces the immediate challenge of reorganizing logistics within a tight timeframe. This includes securing larger venues, deploying additional invigilators, and ensuring robust infrastructure for a computer-based exam. The court’s rejection of the NBEMS’s logistical constraints places pressure on the body to leverage technology and resources effectively.
• For Medical Education: By mandating a single-shift exam, the ruling reinforces the principles of fairness and transparency in high-stakes national examinations. It may set a precedent for other competitive exams in India, encouraging examining bodies to prioritize uniform testing conditions.
• For Future Examinations: The court’s critique of routine normalization and its emphasis on single-shift exams could influence the design of future NEET-PG and similar examinations, potentially leading to systemic reforms in examination processes.

Logistical Considerations

To comply with the Supreme Court’s directive, the NBEMS must:

• Identify Additional Centers: Secure examination centers with adequate infrastructure, such as high-speed internet and secure computers, to accommodate all candidates in a single shift.
• Enhance Security Measures: Deploy additional invigilators and implement robust anti-malpractice protocols to address the NBEMS’s concerns about potential cheating in a single-shift format.
• Update Admit Cards: Revise and reissue admit cards, originally set to be released on June 2, 2025, to reflect the new single-shift schedule.
• Communicate Changes: Inform candidates promptly about the updated exam format and logistics to avoid confusion.

The NBEMS is expected to provide updates on these arrangements, with results still scheduled for announcement by July 15, 2025, as per the original timeline.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court’s directive to conduct NEET-PG 2025 in a single shift marks a significant victory for medical aspirants advocating for fairness and transparency. By addressing the arbitrariness of the two-shift format and dismissing logistical excuses, the court has reaffirmed the importance of equitable evaluation in high-stakes examinations. While the NBEMS faces logistical challenges in implementing the ruling, the decision is poised to restore candidate confidence and set a precedent for future examinations. As the medical community awaits the June 15, 2025, examination, the focus remains on ensuring a smooth, transparent, and fair process for all aspirants.

Sources: