The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET-PG) 2025, originally scheduled for June 15, has been postponed, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) announced on Monday. The delay is to accommodate a Supreme Court directive to conduct the exam in a single shift, ensuring greater transparency and uniformity for candidates.
In its initial notice issued on Monday, NBEMS stated, "NEET-PG 2025 scheduled to be held on 15.06.2025 has been postponed to arrange for more Test Centres and required infrastructure. The revised date for conduct of NEET-PG 2025 shall be notified shortly."
Just two hours later, NBEMS released a clarification, stating, "the revised dates for the conduct of the NEET-PG 2025 shall be notified once approval is obtained from the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in accordance with the order dated 30.05.2025." This rapid issuance of two notices has raised concerns about administrative disarray, as the lack of a confirmed timeline continues to unsettle candidates.
The Supreme Court’s order, issued on May 30, mandated, "We, accordingly, direct the respondents to make necessary arrangements for holding the NEET-PG 2025, examination in one shift, duly ensuring that complete transparency is maintained and secure centres are identified and commissioned." As reported by The Free Press Journal, the court’s intervention aims to address longstanding issues with the multi-shift exam format, which has been criticised for inconsistencies in question paper difficulty.
The back-to-back notices have drawn sharp criticism from stakeholders. Sudha Shenoy, a parent representative, expressed frustration, stating, "The delay could have been avoided if NBE was sensitive enough to listen to students' pleas for a single shift exam as early as in December when NBE declared the NEET PG 2025 exam date. This kind of arrogance every year is leading to disruption in holding exams on time. Hope now there is not much delay beyond July and exams are conducted smoothly."
Brijesh Sutaria, a Mumbai-based medical education activist, further lambasted NBEMS’s handling of the situation, saying, "Two notices in two hours—first to announce postponement, and next to say revised dates await Supreme Court approval—reveals serious administrative confusion.”
“The Supreme Court allowed a delay only to ensure fairness & not to create indefinite uncertainty. Was NBEMS not anticipating this outcome while the matter was sub judice? Why wasn’t a backup network of centres ready? Or did they assume the Court would rule in their favour? This judgment is a reality check, medical education cannot run on opacity or unchecked authority. Students deserve transparency, timelines, and trust not vague circulars and silence,” Sutaria added.
Following the second notice, he further said, "The Supreme Court directive was issued four days ago on May 30; why wasn’t a roadmap prepared in advance? NEET-PG aspirants are already stressed, and such indecisiveness only adds to their anxiety. It’s time NBEMS acts like a national-level body with clear planning and accountability, not with piecemeal circulars and reactive communication.”
Sutaria further added, "No Backup Exam Management System—that’s what NBEMS stands for right now, and it’s a disservice to the medical community."
In contrast, Dr. Lakshya Mittal, national president of UDF, offered a more optimistic perspective, urging candidates to stay resilient. He said, "The recent decision to postpone NEET-PG 2025, as per the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s directive, is a step towards ensuring greater transparency and fairness in the examination process. While this unexpected delay may be disheartening for many aspirants who were mentally and academically prepared for June 15, I urge all candidates to see this as an opportunity—not a setback. Use this time wisely for one more thorough revision. Stay focused, stay strong. Your hard work will pay off. We will continue to monitor developments and stand with you in every step of this journey."
NBEMS has committed to conducting NEET-PG 2025 in a single shift, as noted in its statement: "Accordingly, NBEMS will conduct NEET-PG 2025 in a Single Shift."
This shift requires securing additional test centres to accommodate over 2,00,000 candidates simultaneously, alongside robust infrastructure to prevent malpractices, aligning with the Supreme Court’s emphasis on transparency.
However, the need for further judicial approval has prolonged uncertainty, leaving candidates anxious about their preparation for this critical exam, which determines entry into postgraduate medical programmes like MD and MS.
