The Supreme Court of India on Friday dismissed the National Board of Examinations (NBE)’s plea to conduct the NEET-PG 2025 exam in two shifts, emphasizing that varying difficulty levels in different question papers could compromise fairness. The court directed the exam authority to ensure the test is held in a single shift with adequate centers to prevent malpractice.
Key Highlights of the Judgment:
Single-Shift Mandate: The court ruled that conducting NEET-PG in two shifts introduces arbitrariness and unfairness, as question papers differ in difficulty.
Equal Opportunity: The bench observed, “How can it stay the same? There are different question papers. They can never be the same.”
Anti-Malpractice Measure: The NBE must allocate sufficient exam centers to accommodate all candidates in one shift, ensuring transparency.
Why This Decision Matters:
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Ensures a level playing field for all NEET-PG aspirants.
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Prevents discrepancies in evaluation due to varying paper difficulty.
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Reinforces the credibility of competitive exams in India.
The Supreme Court’s decision aligns with previous rulings upholding exam integrity, setting a precedent for future entrance tests. Aspirants can now prepare knowing the exam will follow a uniform, single-shift format.