On May 30, 2025, the Supreme Court of India delivered a landmark ruling that has brought relief and hope to thousands of medical aspirants across the country. The court ordered the National Board of Examination (NBE) to scrap its plan to conduct the NEET-PG 2025 exam in two shifts, directing that it must be held in a single shift on June 15, 2025. This decision, rooted in the principles of fairness and equality, addresses long-standing concerns about the exam process and ensures that every candidate gets an equal shot at success.

What is NEET-PG, and Why Does This Matter?

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET-PG) is the gateway for medical graduates in India to pursue specialized postgraduate studies, such as MD or MS degrees. It’s a high-stakes exam where every mark counts, determining the future of countless doctors. For years, the NBE has conducted NEET-PG in two shifts—some candidates test in the morning, others in the afternoon—due to logistical challenges like limited exam centers. But this system has sparked debates about fairness, and the Supreme Court has now stepped in to settle the matter.

The Problem with Two Shifts

Imagine preparing for months, only to find out that the question paper you got was tougher than the one your friend answered in a different shift. That’s the core issue with a two-shift exam. No matter how carefully designed, two sets of question papers can never be identical in difficulty. The NBE has relied on a process called normalization to adjust scores between shifts, but the Supreme Court called this out as an imperfect fix. Justice Vikram Nath, leading the bench, put it bluntly: “Holding the examination in two shifts creates arbitrariness and does not keep all candidates at the same level. Any two question papers can never be said to be of an identical level of difficulty or ease. There has to be a variation.”

This variation, the court said, turns the exam into a game of luck rather than a test of merit—a point passionately argued by the petitioners, a group of aspiring doctors. They told the court that this system violates their constitutional rights under Article 14 (right to equality) and Article 21 (right to life and a fair process), as it fails to provide a level playing field.

The NBE’s Defense—and Why It Didn’t Hold Up

The NBE, represented by Senior Advocate Maninder Acharya, fought back. They argued that conducting NEET-PG online requires specialized centers with Wi-Fi, secure computers, and robust infrastructure—resources that are limited. “For online exams, there are only so many centers,” Acharya explained, pointing out that over 2.5 lakh candidates are expected to appear. She added that normalization ensures fairness and that exams like CAT, IIT-JEE, and CUET also use multiple shifts without issue.

But the court wasn’t buying it. Justice Sanjay Kumar questioned the need for an online exam in the first place: “Why do you need an online exam? It’s just a multiple-choice question exam.” The bench also pointed out that NEET-UG, which has even more candidates, manages to be held in a single shift. Dismissing the NBE’s claim that there aren’t enough centers nationwide, the court leaned on a simple truth: with technology advancing and the exam spanning the entire country, solutions can be found. “We are not ready to accept that in the entire country, considering the technological advancements, the examining body could not find enough centers,” the judges stated.

A Call for Transparency and Action

The Supreme Court didn’t just stop at banning two shifts. It ordered the NBE to make arrangements for a single-shift exam and ensure “full transparency” in the process, from identifying secure centers to conducting the test. With just over two weeks until June 15, the court believes there’s enough time to get it right. And if the NBE can’t? They’ve been given a lifeline: they can request an extension. This shows the court’s balance between firmness on fairness and flexibility on logistics.

The court also took a stand against normalization as a routine practice. “Normalization may be applied in exceptional cases, but not year after year,” the bench ruled, reinforcing that the goal is a system where such adjustments aren’t needed.

The Human Side: A Win for Students

Behind the legal jargon and courtroom arguments are real people—doctors who’ve spent years studying, sacrificing sleep and social lives, all for a chance to chase their dreams. The petitioners’ fight wasn’t just about logistics; it was about fairness. They pointed to NEET-PG 2024, where the second shift was reportedly easier, potentially skewing results. One petitioner’s lawyer argued, “A double-shift exam gives priority to luck over merit.” The court agreed, and when the NBE suggested that only a “handful” of the 2.5 lakh candidates complained, Justice Sanjay Kumar shot back: “Even if one student has a legitimate grievance, the Court will interfere.”

This ruling is a human victory—a reminder that the system should serve the people it’s meant to test, not the other way around.

What Happens Next?

The NBE now faces a challenge: find 900 additional centers, as they estimate, to make a single-shift exam work. They’ve been told not to use the threat of delayed admissions as an excuse—“You can do it,” Justice Nath insisted. For students, this means preparing for June 15 with the assurance that they’ll all face the same test, under the same conditions. And if the NBE needs more time, they’ll have to justify it to the court.

Conclusion: A Step Toward a Fairer Future

For the public, especially the parents, friends, and families of NEET-PG aspirants, this decision is easy to grasp: it’s about giving every doctor-to-be an equal chance. No more worrying about whether your shift got the tougher paper or if a computer glitch skewed your score. The Supreme Court has put its foot down, telling the NBE to prioritize fairness over convenience. It’s a ruling that says, “We hear you,” to students who’ve felt the system was stacked against them.

This isn’t just about one exam—it’s a signal for all competitive tests in India. Fairness isn’t negotiable, and with a little effort, even big challenges can be tackled. For the young doctors gearing up for NEET-PG 2025, it’s a chance to compete on their terms, with their hard work—not luck—deciding their fate.

Key Highlights:

1. Single Shift Ordered: NEET-PG 2025 will be held in one shift on June 15, 2025, to eliminate unfairness.
2. No Routine Normalization: The court rejected regular score adjustments, pushing for a uniform exam.
3. Transparency First: The NBE must ensure a secure, open process.
4. Rights Upheld: The ruling protects candidates’ constitutional rights to equality and fairness.
5. Time to Act: The NBE has weeks to prepare—or request more time if needed.

This is more than a legal win—it’s a moment of hope for every student dreaming of a white coat and a stethoscope.