NEET PG 2025 Answer Key Controversy: Supreme Court Hearing Scheduled Before 5 September

Students Seek Clarity on NEET PG Scores as Supreme Court Reviews Disclosure Practices

The Supreme Court of India is set to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the NEET PG 2025 examination, with petitioners calling for greater transparency in the postgraduate medical entrance process. The plea was urgently listed in response to the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) announcing that counselling for All India Quota (AIQ) seats would commence on or after 5 September, raising concerns that any delay in judicial intervention could render the petition ineffective.

The PIL was filed shortly after the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) declared its intention to release the NEET PG answer key for the first time. Initially welcomed by aspirants and medical associations, the announcement was seen as a step towards transparency. However, the board later clarified that it would not publish the full set of questions, instead sharing only question IDs, the final answer key, and individual response sheets. This rollback prompted widespread concern among candidates, who argued that without access to the actual questions, the disclosure would be “non-verifiable” and insufficient for meaningful review.

Petitioners have requested the release of complete question papers as viewed by each candidate, alongside their responses and the correct answers. They contend that this level of disclosure is essential for verifying scores and raising objections before the counselling process begins. The matter has been placed before Justice J.B. Pardiwala’s bench, given his prior rulings on examination transparency, including the April 2025 directive requiring publication of raw scores and normalisation details in national-level entrance tests.

The NEET PG 2025 examination, held on 3 August, saw participation from over 2.42 lakh candidates across 301 cities and 1,052 test centres. Conducted in a single online shift, the exam is one of the largest postgraduate medical assessments in the country, making transparency and procedural fairness critical to public trust. With the NEET PG result and merit list already released, candidates are now awaiting the final counselling schedule on the MCC website (mcc.nic.in). The NBEMS’s decision to limit disclosure to question IDs and response sheets has drawn comparisons with other national entrance exams, such as JEE, CLAT, and AIIMS INI-CET, where full question papers and candidate-specific mappings are routinely provided. Aspirants argue that NEET PG should follow similar standards to ensure accountability and allow candidates to verify their scores independently.

In addition to procedural concerns, the case raises broader questions about governance and policy in medical education. The role of NBEMS and MCC in ensuring exam integrity and fairness is under scrutiny, with stakeholders calling for reforms that prioritise transparency and candidate rights. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for future entrance examinations, potentially influencing how technical disclosures are handled across India’s competitive testing landscape. As the Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments, the petitioners remain hopeful that the judiciary will uphold the principles of fairness and transparency, especially given the time-sensitive nature of the counselling process and the scale of participation in NEET PG 2025. This case is being closely watched as a defining moment for examination reform and candidate accountability in postgraduate medical admissions.

Editor’s Note

The NEET PG 2025 examination has once again brought the question of transparency in medical entrance testing into sharp focus. More than 2.42 lakh candidates sat the test on 3 August, across over 1,000 centres nationwide. Therefore, the scale and significance of this national-level exam cannot be underestimated. In this context, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court, raising concerns about the lack of full disclosure in the results process. The petitioners have particularly questioned the decision of the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) to withhold the complete set of questions. NBEMS initially planned to release the final answer key, response sheets, and questions, which were well-received. However, they revised this, deciding to share only question IDs, the answer key, and individual response sheets. This led to frustration among aspirants and medical associations, who argued that without the actual questions, the data would be unverifiable, hindering proper objections or score confirmation. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenges the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences' (NBEMS) limited disclosure in national entrance examinations. Petitioners demand the release of candidate-specific question papers, responses, and answers, citing practices in JEE and CLAT. They argue that this transparency is crucial for fairness and public trust. The Supreme Court, led by Justice J.B. Pardiwala, is reviewing whether NBEMS's disclosure format for medical entrance exams meets fairness standards. This is urgent as the MCC begins AIQ counselling on September 5, and a delayed resolution could hinder seat allotments. A ruling for the petitioners could set a precedent for future medical exam reforms. 

Skoobuzz assert that this case reflects a broader demand for transparency, accountability, and empowerment of candidates within India’s highly competitive education system. Therefore, the outcome will be closely observed by students, educators, and policymakers alike.

FAQs

1. When will the NEET PG 2025 answer key be released? 
The NEET PG 2025 final answer key was officially released by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) on 29 August 2025, following a Supreme Court directive for greater transparency.

2. How to download the NEET PG response sheet? 
Candidates can download their response sheet by logging into the NBEMS official website using their application number and password. The response sheet and answer key are available under the NEET PG 2025 section in the candidate dashboard.

3. What is the Supreme Court case on NEET PG 2025? 
The Supreme Court is hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by aspirants who are challenging NBEMS’s decision to release only question IDs and responses, without the full question paper. The petition argues that this format lacks transparency and prevents proper score verification.

4. Why did students file a plea about NEET PG transparency? 
Students filed the plea because NBEMS initially promised to release the full question paper, answer key, and response sheets, but later revised the format to exclude the actual questions. Aspirants believe this limits their ability to verify scores and raise objections.

5. Will the NEET PG 2025 result be delayed? 
No. The NEET PG 2025 result was declared on 19 August 2025, and individual scorecards were made available from 29 August 2025. However, the Supreme Court case may influence the counselling process if not resolved quickly.

6. How does NBEMS handle NEET PG answer keys? 
NBEMS released the answer key using a master question set, showing only question IDs, correct answers, and candidate responses. Due to shuffled question orders for each candidate, the board did not publish the full question paper, citing content protection concerns.

7. Can NEET PG students challenge the answer key? 
At present, NBEMS has not provided a formal challenge window for the answer key. Students and legal experts argue that without full question disclosure, meaningful challenges are not possible. The Supreme Court is reviewing this issue.

8. What is the latest news about NEET PG 2025 in the Supreme Court? 
The Supreme Court is actively hearing the transparency plea. The case is before Justice J.B. Pardiwala’s bench, which has previously issued rulings on exam reform. A decision is expected soon due to the urgency of the counselling timeline.

9. Is NEET PG counselling affected by the Supreme Court plea? 
Potentially, yes. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) is scheduled to begin AIQ counselling on or after 5 September 2025. Petitioners argue that without full answer key disclosure, candidates cannot verify scores before seat allotment, which may lead to unfair admissions.

10. How to check the NEET PG final answer key online? 
Candidates can check the final answer key by logging into the NBEMS website with their credentials. Under the NEET PG 2025 section, they can view the question IDs, correct answers, and their marked responses, and download the PDF for reference during counselling.