NEET PG 2025 Reforms: SC Orders 10 New Rules for Counselling & Admissions

New Delhi: In a historic move, the Supreme Court has ruled on 10 landmark reforms to make the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET PG) more transparent and fair. The decision addresses long-standing complaints from doctors and aspirants about seat blocking, lack of transparency, and irregularities in the admission process.

The Court directed the National Board of Examinations (NBE) to publish raw scores, answer keys, and the normalisation formula used in multi-shift exams. This is the first time such a measure has been mandated, marking a big win for students demanding transparency.

Background of the Case

The case was filed by two NEET PG aspirants from the 2017–18 academic session. Both had secured ranks (AIR 13979 and 11280) and aimed for MD Radiology, but alleged that due to large-scale seat blocking and irregular counselling, less meritorious candidates grabbed those seats in the mop-up round.

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The Allahabad High Court initially ruled in their favour, ordered an inquiry, and directed the State of Uttar Pradesh to pay ₹10 lakh compensation each. However, the State challenged this before the Supreme Court.

While the Supreme Court reduced the compensation to ₹1 lakh each towards litigation expenses, it acknowledged the systemic flaws in the counselling process and took a broader view, introducing sweeping reforms for all future NEET PG admissions. SC order also aligns with the NMC NEET PG 2023 Regulations as per the Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulations Act 2023.

The Supreme Court’s 10 Directives for NEET PG Reforms

Here’s what the top court has ordered to ensure merit-based, transparent, and fair admissions:

1. Unified Counselling Calendar: Nationally synchronised schedule for All India Quota (AIQ) and State rounds to prevent seat blocking.
2. Pre-Counselling Fee Transparency: Private/deemed universities must declare all charges (tuition, hostel, caution deposit, misc. fees) upfront.
3. NMC Fee Guidelines: The SC directed the National Medical Commission (NMC) to implement NMC Fee Guidelines as soon as possible.
4. Upgrade Option After Round 2: Students admitted in earlier rounds can shift to better seats without reopening counselling for new entrants.
5. Transparency in Results: NBE must publish raw scores, answer keys, and normalisation formula for all multi-shift NEET PG exams.
6. Strict Anti–Seat Blocking Penalties: Repeat offenders to lose deposits, face disqualification from future exams, and complicit colleges risk blacklisting.
7. Aadhaar-Linked Seat Tracking: To stop multiple seat holdings and fraudulent admissions.
8. Accountability of State Authorities: State officials violating counselling rules to face contempt or disciplinary action.
9. Uniform Counselling Code: A single set of rules across India covering eligibility, mop-up rounds, withdrawals, and grievance handling.
10. Third-Party Oversight by NMC: Annual audits of counselling data to ensure transparency and fairness.

Why This Judgment Matters

• Single-Shift Exam in place of Multi-Shift Exams: Publishing raw scores and answer keys will end doubts about discrepancies between exam shifts.
• End of Seat Blocking: Aadhaar-based tracking and stricter penalties will stop candidates from blocking multiple seats.
• Fair Fee Structure: Centralised regulation will bring relief to students facing arbitrary fee demands by private institutions.
• Merit-Based Counselling: Uniform rules across states and AIQ ensure no deserving student is left behind.
• More Opportunities: With additional upgrade windows and strict online processes, fewer seats will remain vacant or misused.

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Bigger Picture for Medical Education

The Supreme Court observed that NEET PG was designed as a transparent, merit-based system but gradually became prone to manipulation. Seat blocking, last-minute seat surrender, and poor synchronisation between State and AIQ rounds often gave unfair advantages to lower-ranked candidates.

The Court stressed that the reforms are not just policy tweaks but structural changes bringing technology, accountability, and coordination into the system. With counselling now conducted fully online, loopholes that allowed private colleges to admit students independently have been closed.

Read Also: NEET PG 2025 vs 2024 Cutoff

Current Context

This judgment also comes at a crucial time, as multiple petitions are pending against NBE’s decision to conduct NEET PG 2025 in two shifts. Many aspirants and associations, including the United Doctors’ Front (UDF), have demanded more clarity on how normalisation will work.

By directing NBE to publish raw data and formulae, the Supreme Court has set a strong precedent for transparency in upcoming exams.

What Students Should Know

• From now on, all NEET PG counselling rounds (AIQ + State quota) will be fully online.
• Seat blocking can cost candidates their deposit, admission chance, and even future exam eligibility.
• Private colleges must declare full fees in advance no hidden charges.
• Vacant seats will be reallocated efficiently due to better synchronisation and tracking.