The Supreme Court of India has recently given an important order to the **National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS)**. NBEMS is the body that conducts the **NEET PG** exam. The Court has asked NBEMS to clearly explain its policy on releasing answer keys for the **NEET PG 2025** examination. This step is part of a larger push for more openness in how competitive exams are conducted in India.
A major relief for thousands of students is that the **Medical Counselling Committee (MCC)** will continue with the **NEET PG 2025** counselling process as planned. The Supreme Court confirmed that it has not issued any stay order. This means admissions for postgraduate medical courses will not be stopped or delayed because of this court case, allowing students to proceed with their chosen paths.
What is NEET PG?
**NEET PG** stands for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Postgraduate). It is a very important entrance exam for medical graduates in India. Students who have completed their MBBS degree and want to study further in specialised medical fields (like surgery, medicine, paediatrics, etc.) must clear this exam. The scores from **NEET PG** are used to decide which postgraduate medical colleges and courses students can get admission into through a process called counselling.
Why are students asking for transparency?
The Supreme Court's involvement began after many **NEET PG aspirants** (students who took the exam) filed petitions. These students are seeking greater transparency in the exam process. They argue that the current system used by NBEMS makes it difficult to understand how their marks are calculated and to challenge any potential errors.
Specifically, students have pointed out that NBEMS only provides "question IDs" after the exam. It does not release the full question papers, the official correct answer keys, or a copy of each candidate's own responses. Without these key documents, students find it hard to properly verify their scores. If they believe there's a mistake in evaluation or an answer key is wrong, they lack the necessary tools to check and challenge these discrepancies effectively.
What did NBEMS tell the Court?
During the recent court hearing, the judges asked NBEMS a direct question: "Do you have a written policy for showing answer keys?"
NBEMS responded by stating that candidates are required to sign **non-disclosure agreements (NDAs)** before taking the exam. These agreements mean students promise not to share the exam questions or other details. NBEMS also mentioned that their practice of not sharing answer keys is based on "convention" – a long-standing tradition – rather than a formal, written rule or official policy document. This distinction is crucial for the Court, which is looking for clear, published guidelines.
What was the Supreme Court's suggestion?
The Supreme Court judges also brought up the example of the **Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)**. UPSC, which conducts many major government exams, has sometimes released provisional (temporary) answer keys in the past. The Court questioned whether NBEMS could adopt a similar approach. The aim of this suggestion is to improve the overall transparency of the **NEET PG** examination process and increase trust among students.
While the Court acknowledged how important transparency is for public examinations, it clarified its current focus. The judges stated that they would not, at this stage, look into individual complaints about how specific exams were conducted or evaluated. Instead, their main goal is to carefully examine the broader policy framework that NBEMS follows for its examinations.
What happens next?
Students participating in **NEET PG 2025** counselling can continue with their applications and choice filling as per the existing schedule. The lack of an interim stay means the counselling process remains unaffected by these court proceedings.
NBEMS has been given **two weeks** to submit its detailed affidavit to the Supreme Court. This document will contain the Board's official explanation of its answer key policy. The next hearing for this important case will take place after NBEMS has filed this affidavit. Students and educational bodies will be watching closely for these updates to understand the future of transparency in **NEET PG** and other major medical entrance exams.
