SC to hear plea against two-shift NEET PG 2025 exam format

In a new development in the ongoing debate over NEET PG 2025, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear a petition challenging the decision of the National Board of Examinations (NBE) to conduct the entrance exam in two separate shifts.

The hearing will be scheduled soon, the top court said on May 26.

NEET PG 2025 is scheduled to take place on June 15 in two shifts on a computer-based platform, with results expected to be announced by July 15.

A bench led by Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih acknowledged the urgency of the matter after a lawyer raised concerns about the delay in listing the plea.

“The bench said it would list the matter this week. It is extremely urgent. The admit cards will be issued on June 2,” the lawyer said.

Responding to the submission, the Chief Justice assured, “It will be listed in a day or two.”

Earlier on May 5, the bench had sought responses from the NBE, the National Medical Council, and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare regarding the plea.

The petition, filed by a candidate named Aditi and others, argues that conducting the NEET PG exam in two shifts could result in unequal competition due to possible differences in question paper difficulty.

It calls for the exam to be held in a single shift to ensure fairness and equality.

Recently, the Supreme Court also delivered a significant judgment aimed at curbing malpractice in NEET PG counselling, ordering measures to prevent seat-blocking and mandating the disclosure of raw scores, answer keys, and the normalization process used in the examination.