Mumbai: The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) on Monday announced that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET-PG) 2025 will be conducted on June 15 in two shifts. The exam will be computer-based, with further details to be published on the NBEMS website.

While the timely announcement has been welcomed, concerns have emerged over the decision to hold the test in multiple shifts. Mumbai-based medical education activist Brijesh Sutaria has urged authorities to reconsider, arguing that a single-shift examination would ensure uniform difficulty levels for all candidates.

"The normalisation process in multi-shift exams has often led to discrepancies, resulting in dissatisfaction among students," Sutaria said. He emphasised that conducting the exam in one shift would prevent post-exam controversies, ensure a level playing field, and avoid legal complications that could delay results.

According to official regulations under Section 61(2) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, 2019, and Section 10(D) of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, NEET-PG is intended to be a single eligibility-cum-ranking examination for admissions to Doctor of Medicine (MD), Master of Surgery (MS), and Postgraduate Diploma courses.

"NBEMS's decision to hold NEET-PG 2025 in two shifts contradicts the fundamental principle of a uniform entrance exam," Sutaria added.

Concerns about fairness and transparency have also been raised, with parent-representative Sudha Shenoy recalling issues from NEET-PG 2024— which was also held by NBEMS in two shifts at the last moment, citing NEET-UG 2024 paper leak—when individual results were not published. “Students felt cheated due to the lack of transparency in the normalisation process,” she said.

Shenoy argued that while NBEMS cited a shortage of test centres as the reason for conducting NEET-PG 2024 in two shifts, authorities had enough time this year to address the issue. “Now, because they are conducting the test in shifts again, they will likely withhold individual marks this year as well. Why should students suffer?” she asked.

Sutaria pointed out that while a question paper leak in NEET-UG 2024 was cited as a reason for holding NEET-PG 2024 in multiple shifts, the undergraduate exam in 2025 was still conducted in a single phase. “NEET-PG is more critical, and authorities should adhere to official regulations,” he said.

“The NEET-PG is the first step in selecting future MDs and MSs. Any irregularities in this exam could lead to unqualified doctors entering the system. Authorities must ensure there are no discrepancies,” he added, noting that NBEMS had also announced the two-shift format for last year’s exam less than a month before the scheduled date.