NEET PG 2025 in one shift: Supreme Court trashes the two-shift format, slams it as arbitrary and unfair

In a significant ruling aimed at ensuring fairness and transparency, the Supreme Court of India has directed that the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET-PG) 2025 be conducted in a single shift, instead of the previously planned two shifts. The decision comes in response to a petition that highlighted the potential for unfairness and inconsistencies in a two-shift format.The Supreme Court bench noted that conducting NEET-PG in multiple shifts could lead to discrepancies in the level of difficulty across different sessions, thereby creating a sense of arbitrariness and unfairness among candidates. The Court stated that for an exam of such national importance, uniformity in standards is essential.The Court’s order comes after petitioners argued that NEET-PG has traditionally been a single-shift, single-day examination, a format that ensures all candidates are assessed under the same conditions. The NEET-PG 2025 examination is scheduled to be held on June 15, 2025.Following the Supreme Court’s directive, the National Board of Examinations (NBE), the body responsible for conducting NEET-PG, will need to make logistical adjustments to accommodate all candidates in a single shift. This may involve securing larger venues, deploying additional invigilators, and ensuring smooth conduct across examination centres nationwide.The decision has been widely welcomed by medical aspirants and educators, who had raised concerns about the fairness of a two-shift system. Candidates often fear that different shifts may lead to variations in the difficulty of questions, which could impact their rankings and future career prospects.