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New Delhi, May 3, 2025 – The United Doctors’ Front (UDF), a prominent medical association representing thousands of doctors and medical aspirants, has filed a petition in the Supreme Court of India urging that the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Postgraduates (NEET PG) 2025 be conducted in a single shift nationwide. This move comes amid widespread concerns over fairness and transparency in the examination process.
The Petition and Its Grounds
The petition, filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, challenges the National Board of Examinations’ (NBE) decision to conduct NEET PG 2025 in two separate shifts with different question papers. The UDF argues that the use of a “normalisation” process to adjust scores between shifts is arbitrary, lacks transparency, and undermines the fundamental rights of aspirants-specifically the right to equality and a fair, merit-based opportunity as guaranteed under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.
Dr. Lakshya Mittal, National President of UDF, emphasized, “Our petition is in response to overwhelming concerns raised by NEET PG aspirants across India. Conducting exams in two shifts with different levels of difficulty and applying a normalisation formula without transparency directly impacts the fairness and credibility of the entire process.”
Widespread Opposition to Two-Shift Format
The controversy stems from the NBE’s announcement that NEET PG 2025 will be held in two shifts on June 15, 2025-one from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM and the other from 3:30 PM to 7:00 PM. This format was first introduced in NEET PG 2024, accompanied by a normalisation process intended to ensure fairness between shifts. However, many candidates reported discrepancies, particularly those who felt disadvantaged by a tougher question paper in the second shift.
A recent UDF survey on social media found that 96% of over 2,500 NEET PG aspirants favored a single-shift examination to guarantee uniformity and transparency. Similarly, a poll conducted by Shiksha.com revealed that 89% of respondents opposed the two-shift format.
Previous Concerns and Legal Challenges
UDF and other stakeholders have previously raised concerns about the potential for normalisation discrepancies, legal complexities, and a loss of candidate confidence in the examination system. Several aspirants who took the 2024 exam have already challenged the normalisation process in court, arguing that it lacks transparency and may have unfairly impacted their results.
Despite these protests, the NBE has not yet indicated any plans to revert to a single-shift format for NEET PG 2025. The plea regarding the 2024 exam’s transparency remains pending before the Supreme Court.
UDF’s Stand
Dr. Mittal, in an official statement, reiterated the association’s commitment: “This fight is not just about an exam-It’s about equality, transparency, and every deserving doctor’s future.”
The Supreme Court is expected to hear the petition in the coming weeks. The outcome could have significant implications for the conduct of high-stakes medical entrance examinations in India.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on information reported by Medical Dialogues and other publicly available sources as of May 3, 2025. The legal proceedings regarding NEET PG 2025 are ongoing, and the final decision rests with the Supreme Court of India. Readers are advised to consult official notifications from the National Board of Examinations and the Supreme Court for the most current updates.
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