SC Directs NEET-PG to Be Conducted in a Single Uniform Shift
- ByAdmin --
- 30 Jun 2025 --
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In a move aimed at ensuring fairness and transparency in competitive examinations, the Supreme Court has directed that the NEET-PG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate) must be conducted in a single, uniform shift across the country. The ruling came in response to growing concerns about unequal difficulty levels and inconsistent evaluation standards in exams conducted over multiple sessions.
Background
- NEET-PG is a national-level examination conducted for admission to postgraduate medical courses in India.
- In recent years, due to logistical and administrative reasons, the exam was being held in multiple shifts.
- Several candidates and stakeholders raised objections, arguing that the variation in question paper difficulty between shifts was unfair and undermined the merit-based selection process.
- Petitions were filed seeking judicial intervention to standardize the examination pattern.
Court’s Observations
- Equal Opportunity is a Constitutional Right
The Court stated that when lakhs of students compete for a limited number of seats, the process must provide each candidate an equal and level playing field. Conducting the same exam in different shifts with different papers introduces an element of arbitrariness.
- Merit Cannot Be Compromised
Merit is the core principle in medical education admissions. The Court emphasized that merit-based assessments must be uniform and cannot depend on which shift a candidate is assigned.
- Normalization is Not a Full Remedy
The Court expressed doubts about the fairness of score normalization or scaling methods used to adjust for paper difficulty across different shifts. It maintained that these methods cannot perfectly account for variation in question sets.
- Administrative Convenience Cannot Override Fairness
While acknowledging the logistical challenges of conducting exams for a large number of candidates in a single session, the Court held that administrative ease cannot justify a process that risks unequal outcomes.
Implications of the Judgment
- NEET-PG to be Held in One Shift Going Forward
All future editions of NEET-PG must be conducted in a single sitting with the same question paper for all candidates.
- National Testing Agencies Must Adapt
The ruling places the responsibility on exam-conducting bodies to upgrade infrastructure and planning to accommodate all examinees simultaneously.
- Stronger Legal Backing for Exam Fairness
This decision strengthens the legal foundation for students challenging inconsistencies in any national competitive exam.
- Potential Impact on Other Exams
Though specific to NEET-PG, this ruling could influence how other exams like NEET-UG, JEE, and CUET are structured in the future.
Conclusion
By directing that NEET-PG be conducted in a single, uniform shift, the Supreme Court has reaffirmed the principle that fairness in competitive examinations is non-negotiable. The ruling strikes a balance between logistical challenges and the constitutional promise of equal opportunity. It sends a clear message that in matters of national importance like medical admissions, the integrity of the process must remain above administrative convenience. This judgment is likely to set a precedent for future reforms in examination practices across India.
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