The NEET PG 2025 exam has been postponed following a Supreme Court order. The exam will now be conducted in a single shift. The new date will be announced soon by the NBEMS.
NEET PG: A significant change has been announced regarding the NEET PG 2025 exam, the nation's most prestigious entrance exam for postgraduate medical courses. The exam, originally scheduled for June 15th, has been postponed, with a new date to be announced shortly. This decision follows a Supreme Court order mandating that the exam be held in a single shift, ensuring equal transparency and fairness for all candidates.
This change was announced on Monday through an official notification issued by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS). Following the court's directives, the exam will now be conducted in a single day and a single shift.
Reasons for Postponement
According to NBEMS, the Supreme Court, in its order of May 30th, unequivocally stated that holding the exam in two shifts was an "arbitrary" decision, creating an uneven playing field for candidates. The bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sanjay Kumar, and N.K. Anjariya observed that papers in two shifts cannot be of the same difficulty level, potentially compromising the exam's integrity.
The court also stated that if preparations for a single-shift exam could not be completed by June 15th, NBEMS could apply for an extension. Following this, the board decided to postpone the exam.
The Court's Strong Remarks and Candidate Concerns
The Supreme Court's firm stance is a significant relief for the thousands of medical students who had long been raising concerns about the transparency and fairness of NEET PG. The board had initially decided to conduct the exam in two shifts, prompting several candidates to file petitions in the Supreme Court.
Although NBEMS's lawyer argued that conducting the exam in a single shift was difficult due to technical, security, and logistical reasons, the court rejected this argument, stating that it was not an impossible task in today's technological era. The court clarified that sufficient resources and technology are available across the country, which can be effectively utilized to conduct the exam in a single shift.
Need for 900 Additional Centers
According to NBEMS, conducting the exam for over 2.5 lakh students in a single shift would require more than 900 additional examination centers. The board also stated that arranging the necessary infrastructure for the exam—such as high-speed internet, computer security, power, and technical support—is a challenging task.
Nevertheless, complying with the Supreme Court's order, the board has commenced work in this direction. The new date will be announced soon to allow candidates sufficient preparation time.
Advantages of a Single-Shift Exam
This decision could mark a historic turning point for the medical education system. Conducting the exam in a single shift will:
- Ensure equal opportunity for all candidates.
- Eliminate discrepancies in the difficulty level of the paper.
- Reduce the likelihood of disputes regarding results and merit lists.
- Enhance the credibility and transparency of the examination.
- Prevent future legal disputes through court oversight of the examination.
Why the Court's Order is a Milestone
This decision reaffirms the judiciary's commitment to protecting the interests of students in India. The court has previously taken a b stance on exams like JEE, NEET, and UPSC, leading to more transparent examination processes.
In the NEET PG 2025 case, the court made it clear that "the future of students is more important than the convenience of any examination body." The court also stated that if the board is unable to prepare within the timeframe in the future, it will be granted an extension, but the exam format must remain consistent.
Candidates' Reactions
News of the exam postponement has elicited mixed reactions among candidates. While students are pleased that the exam will now be conducted fairly and transparently, they are also concerned about the new date. Many candidates have reacted on social media, stating that they will now need to readjust their preparation strategies according to the new schedule.
What Next?
All eyes are now on NBEMS, which will announce the revised exam date in the coming days. The board's priority is to ensure the smooth conduct of the large-scale exam in a single shift. Technical assistance and collaboration with state governments are being utilized to increase the number of centers.
