Supreme Court Raises Concerns Over NEET-PG Exam Changes

Last-Minute Format Alterations

On September 20, the Supreme Court of India expressed concern over last-minute changes made to the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET-PG) exam format by the National Board of Examinations (NBE). The court, consisting of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, deemed the changes “unusual” and has asked the NBE and the Union Government to respond within a week. A follow-up hearing is scheduled for September 27, 2024.

Discrepancies in Exam Documentation

The NBE conducted the NEET-PG 2024 exam on August 11, with results announced on August 23. Candidates had previously filed a plea highlighting that the exam format was altered just a month prior, converting it from a single session to two sessions with separate papers—contrary to NBE guidelines.
Petitioners’ counsel pointed out that the NBE failed to provide essential documents such as question papers and answer keys, which are necessary for candidates to assess their performance. Many candidates reported discrepancies in their scorecards, which did not accurately reflect the number of questions attempted.

Transparency Issues Highlighted

The plea stated, “There is a clear lack of transparency in the conduct of the NEET-PG 2024 exam, as no documents are provided for students to check their performance.” This includes the absence of the question paper, response sheets, and answer keys, leaving students with only a scorecard that may contain errors.

Concerns Over Normalization Method

The petitioners also raised issues with a new normalization method introduced shortly before the exam, which they argued was arbitrary. They claimed that this method led to significant changes in student rankings, creating confusion and clumping of scores that didn’t accurately reflect candidates’ abilities.

Criticism of NBE’s Actions

Senior Advocate Vibha Makhija, representing the petitioners, criticized the NBE for implementing the new normalization policy just three days before the exam, calling it a “knee-jerk reaction.” She emphasized the lack of established regulations for exam conduct, which rely solely on an information bulletin that can be altered at any time.

Chief Justice’s Concerns

The Chief Justice questioned the rationale behind changing the exam pattern so close to the exam date, emphasizing the stress it could cause students. The NBE’s counsel defended their actions as normal, but the Chief Justice strongly disagreed, highlighting the unusual nature of such changes.

Ongoing Transparency Demands

This is not the first time concerns have been raised about NEET-PG exams. In 2022, similar pleas were filed regarding discrepancies in the NEET-PG 2022 exam results and the lack of transparency in the evaluation process. The Supreme Court dismissed those earlier pleas in June 2024 due to the delay since the exam.
The current situation underscores ongoing demands for transparency and fairness in the NEET-PG examination process.