NEET PG Exam Postponed: Supreme Court Orders Single Shift Exam and NBEMS to Announce New Date Soon
In a major development for medical aspirants across India, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has officially postponed the NEET PG 2025 exam, which was earlier scheduled for June 15, 2025. The decision follows a recent Supreme Court directive mandating that the postgraduate medical entrance exam be conducted in a single shift to maintain fairness and transparency.
The new date for the NEET PG 2025 exam is expected to be announced soon on the official NBEMS website. This sudden postponement, although inconvenient for some candidates, is aimed at upholding uniform standards across the country for one of the most competitive and crucial exams in the medical field.
Why Was NEET PG 2025 Postponed?
The NEET PG Exam 2025 was postponed after the Supreme Court, on May 30, 2025, directed that the exam be held in a single shift to maintain fairness and uniformity. This decision came in response to a petition challenging the earlier plan to conduct the exam in multiple shifts, which could lead to variations in difficulty levels and unfair outcomes for candidates.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sanjay Kumar, and NK Anjaria emphasized that for a national-level exam like NEET PG, a standardized and transparent assessment process is crucial. The Court instructed the NBEMS to make necessary arrangements for conducting the exam in one shift—even if it required postponing the originally scheduled date. As a result, the exam has been deferred to allow for the setup of additional secure test centers across the country.
NBEMS to Increase Test Centres
To implement the Court’s directive, NBEMS is now working on increasing the number of exam centres across India. The aim is to accommodate all registered candidates in one shift, which demands not just additional infrastructure, but also enhanced coordination and security.
An official from NBEMS noted that this is a logistically intensive task, as the NEET PG sees participation from tens of thousands of candidates. Conducting such a large-scale exam in a single session will require additional time for planning, which has resulted in the postponement of the exam date.
Official Notice Confirms Postponement
In an official release, NBEMS confirmed the postponement, stating:
“In view of the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s order dated 30 May 2025, the NEET PG 2025 examination, originally scheduled for 15 June 2025, stands postponed. The new date for the examination shall be announced shortly on the NBEMS website.”
Candidates are advised to regularly check the official website https://natboard.edu.in for the latest updates regarding the revised schedule.
What This Means for NEET PG Aspirants
For candidates preparing for NEET PG 2025, this delay could be a blessing in disguise. With extra time now available, aspirants can further strengthen their preparation and revise critical topics. However, this also means staying mentally resilient and focused despite the uncertainty.
Here are a few key takeaways for students:
- Use the additional time to revise weak areas and improve accuracy.
- Stay updated via NBEMS notifications and official press releases.
- Avoid falling for unofficial rumors or fake schedules circulated on social media.
- Consider this a chance to refine your exam strategy and take more mock tests.
The Supreme Court’s Stand: A Shift Toward Fairness
The apex court’s order marks a significant shift in the approach to medical entrance exams in India. By stressing on a single-day, single-shift exam, the Court has emphasized the need for fairness and equality, especially in high-stakes competitive tests like NEET PG.
This move is in line with previous concerns raised in other entrance tests where normalization of marks across multiple shifts was considered problematic. The NEET PG has traditionally been a single-shift exam, and this order effectively restores that format.
When Will the New Exam Date Be Announced?
While there is no confirmed date yet, sources within NBEMS suggest that the new schedule will likely be announced within the next few weeks. The exam body is currently coordinating with test centre authorities and state agencies to ensure that suitable infrastructure is in place to accommodate all candidates safely and securely in one go.
Candidates can expect the NEET PG 2025 exam to be held by July or early August, depending on how quickly logistical arrangements are completed.
Final Thoughts
The postponement of NEET PG 2025 may come as a surprise, but it highlights the growing awareness and judicial oversight of examination fairness in India. While the delay requires candidates to recalibrate their preparation timelines, it also offers a rare opportunity to prepare more thoroughly and enter the exam hall with greater confidence.
As we await the announcement of the revised date, one thing is clear: transparency, fairness, and uniformity will be the cornerstones of the upcoming NEET PG 2025 exam.
Stay tuned to official updates, focus on your preparation, and keep your motivation high—your medical dream is still very much within reach.