SC orders uniform NEET-PG exam to ensure transparency and gives NBE extra time for nationwide logistics
The Supreme Court of India has ordered the NEET-PG 2025 test to be held on August 3, 2025, on a single shift throughout the nation. The ruling comes following increasing alarm over the fairness of a multi-shift design and a petition calling for more transparency in the competitive exam process.
Previously, the National Board of Examinations (NBE) had planned the examination for June 23, recommending a two-shift pattern considering logistical needs. The format, however was under legal challenge, with petitioners claiming that the two-shift approach may lead to unfair advantages or disadvantages based on varying levels of question difficulty.
The Supreme Court concurred that there could be “inadvertent discrimination” if more than one shift is held, ultimately declaring that a single uniform shift is necessary to promote equity across all candidates. A bench of Justices P.K. Mishra and Augustine George Masih heard the NBE’s plea for extension of time to carry out the court’s order.
NBE told the court that it would take two times the exam centers—up to 900 across the nation—to give the exam in one sitting to more than 2.5 lakh candidates, and deployment of close to 60,000 personnel. They cited coordination in security arrangements, safety of candidates, and equitable allocation of resources. Noting these logistical difficulties, the court sanctioned the date alteration but also stated firmly that no more extensions would be considered.
This should be the final timeline. There must be certainty for aspirants who are preparing for months under high pressure, the court noted. The Supreme Court directive has been hailed by numerous students and educational experts, who have frequently identified inconsistencies in percentile normalization across various shifts.
A single shift test, although more difficult to schedule, is considered more transparent and fair. The NBE will release new admit cards with new information in July. The applicants are requested to look out for official notices through the website of the NBE. Following the rescheduling of the exam date, the counseling sessions conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) will also be rescheduled, but the new schedule is to be announced.
The NEET-PG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduates) is the gatekeeper exam for entry into MD/MS and PG Diploma courses in medical colleges all over India. As it plays a pivotal role in shaping the professional futures of thousands of young physicians, the format and equity of the exam are a matter of national concern.
Conclusion: The Supreme Court’s order shifting NEET-PG 2025 to a single-shift schedule on August 3 is a demonstration of its effort to bring fairness and transparency into high-stakes exams. Though it poses logistical hurdles, the shift remedies widespread complaints from the students and ensures merit-based assessment across the nation
