NEET PG 2025: Thousands Launch Protest Campaign Against Two-shift Format after NBE says only few object

New Delhi: The aspirants for the National Eligibility-Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET-PG) Examination, who are opposing the conduction of the exam in two shifts, have launched a signature campaign on social media after the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) claimed that only a few candidates were opposing the plans of NEET PG Double Shift.

Responding to Dr. Aditi, who has filed a plea before the Supreme Court challenging the double shift exam, NBE mentioned that there were only seven petitioners who were opposing the proposal to conduct the exam in two shifts.

Later, the doctor created a Google Form and launched a Signature Campaign to highlight that the majority of the students were opposing the double shift exam. Already, the petition has gathered more than 6,000 signatures, and it continues to gain momentum.

Also Read: NEET PG: SC Lists Plea on Marks Normalisation, Transparency for May 20

Explaining the reasoning behind the signature campaign in an interview, Dr. Aditi told Edex Live, "NBE has filed a reply recently mentioning there are just seven petitioners in the case and that others want to stick to a double shift system."

"We are circulating the Google form for aspirants to sign it, as it is not possible for everyone to be a petitioner due to complexity and the fear of court proceedings," she added.

Dr. Aditi further emphasised the widespread nature of the concerns, adding that "It is quite unfair to say that if there are only 7 petitioners to the case, it does not have any substantial value. People are largely affected, which is noted by these medical associations, which have huge numbers of doctors and NEET-PG aspirants as their members."

Apart from her plea, the Supreme Court is also considering a plea filed by the United Doctors' Front (UDF). Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that UDF challenged the National Board of Examination's decision of holding the NEET PG 2025 examination in two shifts and the normalisation formula adopted by NBE.

The normalisation formula, regarding which the aspirants have been expressing their doubts, was introduced to neutralise the effect of tougher or easier papers for NEET PG held in multiple shifts. This formula is used to calculate the score, based on which the merit list is prepared.

UDF has prayed that the upcoming PG medical entrance test examination be conducted in a single shift to ensure transparency, uniformity in difficulty levels, and equal standards of evaluation. The association has contended that this violates the aspirants’ fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, specifically the right to equality and the right to a fair, merit-based opportunity. 

Response from NBEMS: 

In response to UDF's plea, NBEMS filed a reply before the top court bench, outlining several preliminary objections to the case. Edex has reported that NBE cited previous dismissals of similar petitions and questioned the maintainability of the current petition under Article 32 of the Constitution, and argued against postponing the examination scheduled for June 15.

NBE stated in the reply that "delaying the NEET PG examination at the eleventh hour, would greatly prejudice lakhs of aspirants and also disturb the academic calendar. Such postponement will result in delay in admissions, which in turn delays the entry of the new post graduates residents into the healthcare system, that too, in a country which already faces shortage of specialists."

It also argued that "in terms of the settled legal principles, the question papers, answer keys and responses of the candidates cannot be disclosed in view of the fact that National Eligibility cum Entrance Test – Post Graduate (NEET PG) is a specialised subject examination, disclosure of which would not be in public interest."

As per the Daily, NBE has also claimed that the petitioners lacked sufficient representation to justify their legal challenge and questioned whether the petitioners truly represented the interests of the larger student body.

NBE stated that "the Petitioner Association lacks the locus standi to maintain the present petition" and "has not disclosed the composition of its members, in absence of which, it remains uncertain as to whether the Petitioner Association is a bonafide representative of the actual applicants of NEET PG 2025."

"If everything is perfect within the system, then why is this same issue of transparency, as well as the two-shift format, appearing as different petitions in various high courts?" he questioned.

Explaining what they are demanding, Advocate Rajput added, "We seek the disclosure of the formula and the scientific basis behind the normalisation process to safeguard the Constitutional rights of all medical aspirants and ensure a selection process that is transparent, fair, and truly merit-based."

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that a recent public survey conducted on the social media platform by UDF revealed that more than 2,513 NEET-PG aspirants anticipated, and a remarkable 96% of respondents demanded that the examination be conducted in a single shift to ensure fairness, transparency, and uniform evaluation. Raising this demand, UDF recently urged the Union Health Minister, Shri J.P. Nadda to reconsider the decision to conduct the PG medical entrance test in two shifts.

Also Read: NEET PG Normalisation Plea to be Heard by Supreme Court on May 22