Supreme Court to Hear Plea Against Two-Shift NEET PG 2025 Exam Format

In a significant ruling that reinforces the principles of fairness and equality in competitive examinations, the Supreme Court of India has mandated that the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET PG) 2025 be conducted in a single shift. This decision came after the court agreed to hear a plea from medical graduates who challenged the two-shift format proposed by the National Board of Examinations (NBE), arguing it could lead to inequities. The court's intervention has resulted in the postponement of the exam to a new, court-approved date to accommodate the logistical changes required for a single-session test.

The central issue brought before the court was the potential for disparity in a two-shift examination format. The petitioners, a group of medical graduates, argued that holding the high-stakes examination in two separate shifts would inevitably involve two different sets of questions. They contended that this would create an inherent imbalance in difficulty levels, potentially disadvantaging one group of students over another based purely on chance. The plea highlighted that such a format could compromise the fairness and transparency of the results, as a candidate's rank might be influenced by the relative difficulty of their specific question paper rather than their absolute merit.

Acknowledging the validity of these concerns, the Supreme Court deemed the multi-session format to be potentially arbitrary and emphasized that the integrity of the examination process must be paramount. The court sided with the students, directing the National Board of Examinations to scrap the two-shift plan and ensure every candidate takes the same test under uniform conditions.

In response to the court's directive, the National Board of Examinations highlighted the significant logistical undertaking of arranging a single-shift exam for all registered candidates. The NBE explained that this change would require nearly doubling the number of required test centers and deploying a vast number of additional personnel.

Citing these challenges, the NBE requested additional time to make the necessary arrangements. After considering the board's submission, the Supreme Court approved a new examination date.

The outcome is seen as a major victory for students, ensuring that every candidate will face the same question paper. This decision upholds the principle of a level playing field, ensuring that the results will be a true reflection of knowledge and preparation.