In a significant development for postgraduate medical aspirants across the country, the Supreme Court has given the green light to the National Board of Examination (NBE) to conduct the NEET-PG 2025 exam in a single shift on August 3. This decision follows the top court’s directions last week, which questioned the feasibility of the earlier two-month testing window proposed by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS).
The bench, comprising Justices P.K. Mishra and A.G. Masih, acknowledged the logistical and administrative concerns raised by the NBEMS regarding the organization of the exam. The board had argued that identifying over 1,000 compliant test centres for an online examination in a single shift was a complex and time-consuming task. However, the court ruled that no further time extension would be granted, asserting that the reasons cited were "bonafide" but not sufficient to delay the process.
The Supreme Court’s order brings clarity and direction to the NEET-PG 2025 timeline, putting an end to uncertainty that had been troubling both students and administrative authorities. In its remarks, the bench emphasized that any delay would adversely affect the admission schedule and the academic calendar. Students preparing for years would suffer due to prolonged uncertainty, the court noted.
The court also reviewed a communication from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the exam conducting partner. TCS confirmed that they possess a robust database of test centres and are capable of determining their compliance status. According to the court, the only pending task was to finalize the list of centres, which did not justify further delays.
Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj, representing the Centre, informed the court that the August 3 date was finalized after extensive high-level discussions. He cited practical difficulties in holding the exam earlier, particularly concerning security arrangements and the need to double examination centres across the nation. Ensuring smooth conduct without glitches was a key consideration, he added.
The court firmly stated that holding NEET-PG in two shifts was not an acceptable option. It highlighted that a dual-shift system had, in the past, led to disparities in question papers and raised fairness concerns. The May 30 order had noted that different shifts often create arbitrary variations and lead to student grievances, especially when one paper appears more difficult than the other. This was deemed unfair to aspirants competing for the same seats.
Previously, the NBEMS had adopted a two-shift model to prevent malpractice in online exams. However, the Supreme Court's latest directive mandates the return to a single-shift format to ensure a level playing field for all candidates.
With the final date now confirmed, NEET-PG aspirants can focus their attention entirely on preparation. The ruling brings a measure of stability to the process and signals a more streamlined approach to high-stakes entrance examinations in India.
Insightful Take:
- NEET-PG 2025 to be conducted on August 3 in a single shift.
- Supreme Court denied NBE’s plea for more time to identify test centres.
- Court emphasized the need to avoid delays in the admission process.
- Two-shift format ruled out due to fairness and variation concerns.
- TCS and NBE must finalize test centre identification promptly.
As India moves toward more centralized and secure online examinations, the verdict sets a strong precedent in balancing logistical constraints with student welfare. For lakhs of NEET-PG aspirants, the countdown to August 3 has now officially begun.
