NEET PG Supreme Court hearing 2024 against NBEMS today; a timeline of events so far

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court will hear the NEET PG aspirants’ petition to review the transparency of the national-level entrance exam today. Around 19 aspirants approached the top court against the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) after demanding for the provisional answer key, raw marks, and normalisation method used for preparing results.

A bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud had listed the matter for hearing on September 27, however, it was postponed as none on behalf of the Union of India appeared. The petitions were first heard on September 13 by the apex court and the CJI said changing the exam pattern just three days before the exam is “very unusual”.

A response from NBE and the Centre was sought within a week on the pleas while listing them for hearing on September 27. Notably, the counsel for NBEMS filed a short reply alongwith affidavit on September 26.

A large number of students have been opposing last-minute changes in the examination pattern, normalisation of marks, demanding for disclosure of answer keys, and the question papers of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Post-Graduation (NEET-PG).

NEET PG 2024: A timeline

January - July 2024 - The NBEMS announced the NEET PG exam date 2024 well in advance for this year. However, it was posted from March 3 to July 7 and then later advanced to June 23.

April 2024 - The board replied to a RTI and said that the NEET PG was advanced to June 23 due to RathYatra festival.

May 2024 - The NBE introduced mandatory time-bound sections in its MCQ-based (multiple-choice questions) entrance exam, including NEET PG.

July 2024 - The NEET PG exam 2024 was postponed to August 11 and was announced to be held in two shifts - first shift from 9 am to 12.30 pm and second shift from 3.30 pm to 7 pm.

July 31, 2024 - The NBEMS issued the exam city allotment link. Several ministers, including MP Shashi Tharoor wrote to the health ministry and NBEMS requesting to revise the exam city allocations claiming that the centres were 1,000 kms away from the preferred locations submitted by the applicants.

August 8, 2024 - The NEET PG admit card 2024 was issued just three days before the exam.

August 9, 2024 - The Supreme Court dismissed the plea to postpone NEET PG exam and said rescheduling at the last moment “will affect 2 lakh aspirants and 4 lakh parents”.

August 10, 2024 - The NMC issued the NEET PG exam day guidelines and announced its decision to adopt the normalisation method used by AIIMS for its various exams.

August 11, 2024 - The NEET PG exam was administered for 2,28,540 candidates at 416 exam centres across the country. Of the total number of registered candidates, 2,16,094 appeared in the exam.

August 23, 2024 - NBE declared the NEET PG results 2024, but did not issue the cut-off details. Several candidates demanded for the answer key and raw marks scored by candidates to get a clarity on normalisation method. However, as per the policy, the NBEMS does not share the details of the exam content.

September 13, 2024 - The Supreme Court heard the petitions filed by 19 aspirants against the NBEMS questioning the transparency of the exam.

September 20, 2024 - The top court took a note of the last-minute changes introduced in NEET PG exam and sought response from NBE, Union of India.

September 27, 2024 - The court requested “the presence of any of the additional solicitors general to assist the court in the matter".

October 4, 2024 - The apex court will resume the hearing today.