Will the SC Address Concerns Over NEET-PG Exam Transparency?

Synopsis
The Supreme Court is set to hear petitions next week regarding the lack of transparency in the NEET-PG examination. Concerns raised include the introduction of two shifts and changes in evaluation methods, which appear to undermine fairness in the testing process. This situation highlights a significant issue for aspiring medical students.
Key Takeaways
- Supreme Court to review NEET-PG exam transparency issues.
- Petitions highlight concerns over two shifts and evaluation methods.
- Question papers and answer keys were not disclosed to candidates.
- NEET-PG has historically been a single shift exam.
- Calls for a transparent and fair examination process.
New Delhi, May 23 (NationPress) The Supreme Court has consented to review next week a series of petitions contesting the absence of transparency in the administration of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET)-PG examination.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai is expected to examine the issue on Monday (May 26). In their submissions to the apex court, NEET-PG hopefuls asserted that the introduction of two shifts, the normalisation method, and adjustments to the tie-breaker criterion have adversely impacted medical students.
The petitioners argued that the NEET-PG information bulletin could be altered arbitrarily by the authorities, and that there are no established rules or regulations governing the examination process. They contested the National Board of Examinations (NBE)'s choice to withhold question papers, answer keys, and candidates' response sheets.
The plea stated that there is a significant lack of transparency in the examination process, as students were not provided with any documents to assess their performance. They only received a scorecard, with no access to the question paper, their completed response sheets, or an answer key.
The petition, presented by advocate Parul Shukla, pointed out that, unlike previous years where candidates received their total score along with details of correct and incorrect attempts, the NEET-PG 2024 results failed to provide a total score.
"The approach employed by the authorities in conducting the NEET PG 2024 examination is evidently arbitrary and contradicts the principles of transparency and fairness in state action as outlined under Article 14 of the Constitution of India," it stated. The plea indicated that NEET-PG has historically been conducted in a single shift and on a single day to maintain a consistent examination standard and fairness in the national test.
It emphasized a "serious patent defect in the examination process," necessitating correction to establish a clean, transparent, and effective examination system that identifies the most qualified candidates.
Recently, the Supreme Court issued notices to the Centre, NBE, and NMC (National Medical Commission) in response to a plea from the United Doctors Front (UDF) contesting the dual-shift format for the NEET-PG 2025 examination. This plea urged the court to intervene to ensure NEET-PG 2025 is conducted in a single, uniform session and requested an interim stay on the examination slated for June 15.