NEET-PG 2025 Postponed After Supreme Court Directs Single-Shift Exam; New Dates Soon

The National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has announced the postponement of the NEET-PG 2025 exam, initially scheduled for June 15, 2025. This decision follows a Supreme Court order requiring that the exam be conducted in a single shift nationwide. The postponement is aimed at allowing authorities to arrange additional test centres and necessary infrastructure to accommodate this new directive. Revised dates for the city intimation slip, admit card release, and the exam itself will be announced soon.

Supreme Court’s Directive on Single-Shift Exam
On May 30, 2025, the Supreme Court addressed petitions challenging the NBEMS notification that scheduled NEET-PG in two shifts. The Court stated it was unacceptable that the exam could not be conducted in a single change nationwide, given the country’s technological advancements and available resources. The Supreme Court emphasized that conducting the exam in two shifts leads to unfairness and an uneven playing field among candidates, noting that all test-takers should have equal conditions.

Reasons for Postponement
Following the Court’s directive, NBEMS had to postpone the exam to make arrangements for additional test centers and the necessary infrastructure to conduct the exam in a single shift. This change necessitates additional preparation time to ensure smooth administration across all locations. Previously, NEET-PG was planned in two shifts to accommodate the number of candidates and limited centres, but this approach was challenged for fairness.

Background: Two-Shift Exam and Normalisation Controversy
Last year’s NEET-PG was conducted in two shifts due to a significant reduction in test centres — down to 416 — following concerns about paper leaks and security. Only “most reliable” centres were chosen, leading to fewer venues. To offset differences in paper difficulty across shifts, NBEMS employed a normalization process designed to ensure fairness in the final ranking.

However, many aspirants expressed dissatisfaction with the normalisation process, criticizing it as opaque and potentially disadvantageous. Given the high stakes where even a single mark can alter ranks drastically, the fairness and transparency of the system were questioned. This controversy was one of the reasons that led to the Supreme Court’s intervention in favor of a single-shift exam.

Impact on Candidates
The postponement may affect candidates’ preparation and admission timelines, but it aims to create a fairer examination environment. The new schedule will be announced shortly, including updates on the release of city intimation slips and admit cards. Candidates should regularly check the official NBEMS website and authorized portals for the latest information to avoid missing any announcements.