NEET PG 2025: 'Subject-Wise Disparity' in Double Shift Exam draws flak
NEET PG 2025 Exam
New Delhi: Amid the ongoing controversy on the double shift format for the National Eligibility-Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET-PG) examination, concerns are being raised on the segregation of the distribution of questions across various subjects in the exam.
A data in this regard was recently shared by a resident MD, Dr Jakir Khan, on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). As per the data, there exists a major variation in the number of questions from the Biochemistry, Pathology, Physiology and Anatomy programme in the last few years, and especially after the two-shift exam pattern was introduced last year.
Sharing the number of questions asked in the NEET PG exam in the recent years, the doctor mentioned that the questions being asked per subject in Shift 1 and 2 in the NEET PG 2024 examination have shown a major gap- especially in subjects including Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Community Medicine, ENT, Surgery, and Anatomy.
The data showed that while only 7 questions were asked from Anatomy in NEET PG 2024 Shift 1, altogether 16 questions were asked in Shift 2. In Biochemistry, 14 and 9 questions were asked in Shift 1 and Shift 2 of NEET PG 2024 exam respectively.
Similarly, in Pathology and Pharmacology, 16 and 8 questions respectively were asked in Shift 1. However, in shift 2, the number of questions were 21 and 18 respectively.
While the students were asked 9 questions from Forensic Medicine in Shift 1, they were asked to answer 4 questions in Shift 2. 22 questions from Community Medicine were including in Shift 1 and 15 questions were including in Shift 2. In case of Ophthalmology and ENT, 11 questions were included in Shift 1. However, 8 and 6 questions were included in Shift 2 of the exam. Students appearing in the Shift 1 exam were asked to answer 15 questions in surgery, but they had to attend 12 questions in the same subject in Shift 2, revealed the data.
Sharing the list, Dr. Khan wrote on X, "If this data is correct, then in the name of normalization, a huge injustice and betrayal is being done to NEETPG25 aspirants. @DWF_INDIA once again appeals to all medical associations of India to come forward and write to NBEMS/NMC and other authorities @JPNadda, informing them about the extent of injustice being faced by NEET PG aspirants. We strongly demand that NEET PG 2025 must be conducted in a single shift only to ensure fairness and transparency."
Medical Dialogues reported that doctors across the country were upset over the conduct of the upcoming NEET PG 2025 exam after the NBEMS announced that it would be held in two shifts on June 15, 2025. While the first shift is scheduled from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM, the second shift is scheduled from 3:30 PM to 7:00 PM.
The doctors expressed their concerns primarily over the normalization process. Even though the normalization formula was introduced for NEET PG 2024 to adjust the scores across different exam shifts to ensure fairness, critics have argued that the process is flawed.
A few candidates who appeared in the second shift of the NEET PG 2024 exam had questioned the normalization formula adopted by NBEMS and further claimed that the board had scammed them in the name of a competitive exam. They pointed out that the Shift 2 paper was tougher compared to Shift 1 and further termed the process of calculating scores as debatable. These concerns were also raised before the Supreme Court, where the aspirants prayed for transparency in the NEET PG 2024 exam.
Recently, a poll conducted by Shiksha.com revealed that when asked about their opinions on the two-shift NEET PG 2025 examination, 89% of the of the respondents in the poll opposed the idea. While 89% of respondents said "No" to the NEET PG exam in two shifts, 9% respondents supported the idea and the remaining 2% were undecided.
Despite the protests and demands from the aspirants to hold the upcoming PG entrance test in a single shift, NBEMS has not yet announced any changes in its plans of holding the exam in double shifts.
Recently, the doctors under the Indian Medical Association Junior Doctors Network (IMA-JDN) urged the Union Health Minister J P Nadda to intervene into the matter and address the concerns of the NEET PG aspirants regarding the double shift exam pattern.
Also Read: Concerned over NEET PG 2025 Double-Shifts, Doctors move Health Minister
Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.
NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.