NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court of India on Friday heard a plea alleging major discrepancies in the NEET-PG 2021 examination scores, highlighting a significant issue with the conduct of postgraduate medical entrance exams in India. The bench, comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra, was informed about concerns not only regarding NEET-PG 2021 but also related to the PG exams for the years 2023 and 2024.
The petitioner’s counsel pointed out an alarming issue where the number of attempted questions shown on the computer screen at the end of the examination did not match the final marks reflected on the scorecard. This discrepancy, the counsel argued, has led to confusion and potential unfairness in evaluating the candidates’ performances.
Furthermore, the petitioner’s counsel raised concerns regarding the National Board of Examinations (NBE) handling of the examination process. According to the counsel, there is a lack of transparency, with the NBE failing to publish an information memorandum and establish a clear standard operating procedure (SOP) for conducting the exam. This ambiguity, the counsel argued, has led to confusion among the states in managing the counselling process for medical aspirants.
Responding to the issues raised, the NBE’s counsel argued that providing answer scripts has not been a part of their procedure. This rule, the NBE asserted, is consistent with its current practices and policies.
Justice Pardiwala, acknowledging the gravity of the concerns raised, stated that the Court would need to conduct a thorough hearing on the matter. The case will now be listed for a Non-Miscellaneous Day, allowing for an in-depth examination of the alleged discrepancies and procedural concerns associated with NEET-PG examinations.
The hearing comes amidst a broader context of questions surrounding NEET-PG exam management, particularly regarding transparency and fairness, as medical aspirants across the country await clarity and a resolution on these pressing issues.