*Supreme Court Order on single shift for NEET PG 2025* (as pronounced orally - there might be slight changes in wordings) Actual order below Heard the parties. Basically 2 reliefs have been sought by the petitioners. 1) Holding of NEET PG 2025 in 2 shifts does not give an equal level playing platform to the candidates as two question papers cannot be of same difficulty and ease. The last exam was held in two shifts and a process called normalization was applied. In that situation where 2 shifts and normalization were conducted this might have been based on the at that stage. But the exam body should have conducted the exams in one shift for 2025 (might have slight differences in wordings in actual order) 2) The other relief claimed is the perspective of disclosure of the questions papers and answer keys of the same examination. At present we are examining only the question of holding examination in 2 shifts or single shift as claimed by the petitioners. This court issued notices on 5th May 2025 in the present petition requiring the respondents to file their response. The response has been filed and primarily two grounds have been taken in support of holding 2 shift examinations. 1) the number of candidates who appear in the said exam is too large and for them it is difficult for the examining body to find secure centers for holding examination in one shift and 2) the second if examinations are held in one shift unscrupulous elements may get involved and there could be malpractices. We find that the total number of candidates who have applied for the above said examination is 2,42,678. The examination is held all over country and not in one city. We are not ready to accept that in the entire country and considering the technological advancement in the country, the examining body could not find enough centers to hold the examination in one shift. Holding examination in two shifts creates arbitrariness and does not keep all the candidates take the examination at the same level. Any 2 question papers can never be said to be having an identical level of difficulty or ease. There has to be a variation. Normalization may be applied in exceptional cases but not in a routine manner year after year. The examination for this year is scheduled for 15th of June 2025. There is still more than 2 weeks for examining body to identify further centers to hold the examination in one shift. We accordingly direct the respondents to ensure to make further arrangements to hold the examination is one shift and also ensure that complete transparency is maintained and secured centers are identified. The issue relating to the second relief claim will be considered after the examinations are held. Another argument raised vehemently on behalf of the respondents is even if the examining body makes an effort to identify more centers it might need more time, which may result into the delay in holding examinations, and all consequent counselling and admissions etc will be delayed which would be not in line with the timelines fixed by this court. This argument is also not accepted as there is still sufficient time for the examining body to identify to examinations in one shift. Let the matters be listed on 14th July 2025. End of Order Post order oral discussion: NBE says time is not sufficient to conduct single shift exam by the 15th of June. Identifying centers is not possible. And therefore provide them time to conduct the exam. SC refused to provide any time and mentioned that it will be open for the respondents (NBE) to apply for an extension of time if they are not able to identify the required number of centers. Very strongly mentioning orally that NBE is trying to find an easy way out - and instead should try to burn a little midnight oil and try to find the center and again reprimanding NBE on wasting a whole year For latest updates & guidance Join https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vanyc1eHLHQS9PkcMD3O