The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has scheduled the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET PG) 2025 for two shifts on June 15, 2025 . This announcement has generated strong opposition from medical aspirants and a Member of Parliament, who highlight critical concerns regarding the examination’s fairness and transparency.
MP Kodikunnil Suresh has formally requested an urgent discussion on NEET PG 2025 in the Lok Sabha. In his letter to the Lok Sabha Secretary-General, the MP detailed specific problems: the two-shift exam format, the absence of a defined normalization formula, and the non-disclosure of answer keys. These issues have created significant apprehension among medical candidates nationwide.
The All Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) Association publicly expressed gratitude to MP Suresh for bringing these matters to Parliament’s attention. The association underscored that fairness and transparency are essential for high-stakes examinations like NEET PG. They reiterated their demand for a single-shift exam, asserting it would ensure a truly level playing field for all participants.
Primary Concerns Identified by Aspirants and MP
Two-Shift Exam Format: Holding the examination in two separate sessions on June 15, 2025 , causes concern among aspirants. They fear differing difficulty levels between shifts could lead to score disparities. This setup could unfairly impact individual ranks, regardless of actual performance.
Normalization Formula Absence: There is no publicly available or predefined formula for normalizing scores across different exam shifts. This lack of transparency leads to concerns about potential bias and inconsistent evaluation methods. Candidates find it difficult to understand how their raw scores will be adjusted, questioning the system’s equity.
Non-Disclosure of Answer Keys: Unlike the undergraduate NEET exam, NBEMS does not release answer keys for NEET PG. This policy prevents candidates from verifying their responses against official answers after the exam. It also removes the ability to identify potential errors in grading or to challenge incorrect questions, raising doubts about the overall accuracy and integrity of the evaluation process and final rankings.
Unclear Service PG Score Calculation: Many aspirants from service backgrounds face significant confusion regarding the calculation of their Service PG scores. Ambiguity surrounding bonus marks, eligibility conditions, and the exact methodology applied creates anxiety. The absence of a clear framework makes it difficult for these candidates to accurately assess their standing or predict their outcomes.
MP Suresh stressed that immediate government intervention is crucial to guarantee fairness in medical admissions. He stated that such intervention is necessary to protect the careers of thousands of medical graduates across the country, ensuring their future is not jeopardized by unclear examination policies.
Context: Past Exam Delays Fuel Anxiety
The FMGs Association previously communicated these concerns through various social media platforms. They maintained that score normalization, while intended to mitigate differences, may not fully compensate for varying difficulty levels. This potentially disadvantages aspirants who encounter a harder shift. The group also highlighted that past NEET PG exams were efficiently conducted in a single shift, suggesting the current move to two sessions represents an unnecessary complication for both administration and candidates.
Adding to existing candidate stress, counselling for NEET PG 2024 remains incomplete. This follows multiple reschedulings, last-minute cancellations, and postponements of the 2024 exam cycle. These past disruptions raise concerns about similar delays potentially affecting the NEET PG 2025 cycle. Aspirants are now awaiting clear responses and decisive action from the government and NBEMS regarding their calls for a single-shift exam and increased transparency in all examination procedures.