NEET PG 2025: Normalisation acceptable practice worldwide, No Need to Have Concerns, says NMC

New Delhi: Amid doctors' dissatisfaction over the conduction of the National Eligibility-Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET-PG) exam in two shifts, the Chairman of the National Medical Commission (NMC), Dr BN Gangadhar, has dismissed the concerns regarding the normalization method.

Pointing out that it is acceptable worldwide, Dr. Gangadhar told Education Times that normalization is used worldwide to arrive at all India ranks and there is no need to have concerns about the process.

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, primarily due to concerns over the normalization process. 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. 

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.

Also Read: Demand for NEET PG 2025 in Single Shift Escalates!

In NEET PG 2024 exam, a few candidates who appeared in the second shift questioned the normalization formula adopted by NBEMS and further claimed that the board 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.

In fact, the plea seeking the release of NEET PG 2024 answer key and seeking transparency in the PG medical entrance exam is scheduled for a hearing before the Supreme Court today.

Amid these developments, the NMC Chairperson has assured the aspirants and doctors that there is no need for concerns regarding the normalization process.

Speaking to Education Times, Dr Gangadhar argued that it is an acceptable practice worldwide. He further added, "Many other exams have been using normalisation to arrive at all India ranks. Smaller batches are easier to monitor and supervise. It is a time-tested method as it is easier to manage two batches. Authorities conducting the exam are experts; there is no need to have concerns about the process."

Dr. Gangadhar also addressed the concerns regarding the delayed admission process for the NEET PG 2024 exam. Even though the NEET PG 2024 exam was held on August 11 in two shifts and the results were also declared in August, the admission process is still ongoing.

As per Dr. Gangadhar the admission process is getting delayed because of the pending legal process. "The number of aspirants for PG course has increased in the past decade. New seats are being added because more candidates are applying. At some point, we will have the same number of PG seats and an equal number of students passing out. Often, the number of PG candidates increases because of the backlog. For example, candidates back out as they are not interested in the course and apply again or take legal recourse, which results in delays," he said.

Apart from the pending matter seeking the release of NEET PG answer key, over the past few months, the Supreme Court and High Courts across the country have also addressed several pleas related to residence-based reservation for PG medical admission, pleas demanding transparency in NEET PG exam, plea seeking fresh counselling in third round due to alleged seat blocking etc.

Also Read: NEET PG 2024 Answer Key matter hearing tomorrow in SC