Supreme Court Raises Concerns Over NEET PG 2024 Pattern Change, Awaits NBE’s Response

The Supreme Court has expressed serious concerns over the sudden changes in the NEET-PG 2024 examination pattern, questioning the decision made by the National Board of Examinations (NBE) just days before the test. The court emphasised the stress this could cause to students, remarking that it was “very unusual” and could lead to a "meltdown" among candidates, the PTI reported.

A bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud heard the case on Friday, taking into account the arguments presented by senior advocate Vibha Datta Makhija and lawyer Tanvi Dubey, who appeared on behalf of the affected students. The court has directed the NBE and the Centre to submit their responses within a week and set the next hearing for September 27.

The core issue, as highlighted by the petitioners, revolves around several last minute changes made to the examination, including alterations to the pattern, discrepancies in the normalisation of marks, and the non-disclosure of question papers and answer keys for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Post-Graduation (NEET-PG), which was held on August 11.

Makhija pointed out the absence of clear regulations regarding the conduct of the exam, stating that the test was unexpectedly split into two parts just three days before it was scheduled. “There needs to be a standardised approach,” she argued, adding that the lack of rules and transparency led to confusion and anxiety among the students. She further criticised the reliance on a single information bulletin, which, she claimed, could be altered at the discretion of the authorities, as reported by the PTI.

The NBE, represented by its counsel, contested these claims, maintaining that no extraordinary changes had been made. However, the Chief Justice, after hearing the arguments, noted, "It is very unusual… Three days before the examinations (exam pattern was changed) ...students will have a meltdown."

The petition, filed by Ishika Jain and other candidates, was previously heard on September 13. The petitioners are calling for the release of the official answer keys, question papers, and the standardisation of marks for the NEET-PG 2024 exam, asserting that such steps are crucial to ensure transparency in the evaluation process.

The results, announced on August 23, have sparked concerns among candidates due to unexpectedly low rankings. Many students, after comparing their scores with unofficial answer keys, have raised doubts about potential discrepancies in the ranking process. They are urging the NBE to release the official answer keys and establish a grievance redressal mechanism to address their concerns.