In a major update, the Supreme Court of India has asked the National Board of Examinations (NBE) to file an affidavit clarifying its stance on the disclosure of answer keys for NEET PG 2025. The directive came from a bench comprising Justices P S Narasimha and Vipul Pancholi, who emphasized transparency in the examination process.
The court was hearing multiple petitions demanding that NBE release the answer keys and raw scores for NEET PG 2025, ensuring fairness and accountability in result evaluation. The justices stressed that transparency is crucial when lakhs of aspirants compete for limited postgraduate medical seats across India.
Key highlights from the directive:
- NBE must submit an affidavit explaining its answer key disclosure policy.
- The bench questioned why such data remained confidential when fairness is at stake.
- Petitioners argued that the absence of answer keys raises doubts about the evaluation system.
- The court sought clarity on whether releasing answer keys compromises exam integrity.
Why Has MCC Extended NEET PG 2025 Round 1 Counselling Indefinitely?
The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has announced that the choice-filling window for NEET PG 2025 Round 1 will remain open until further orders. This unexpected extension has come as a relief for thousands of medical aspirants struggling to make final college and course preferences.
Earlier, the choice filling was scheduled from October 28 to November 5, 2025, covering:
- 50% All India Quota (AIQ) seats
- 100% Deemed and Central Universities
- AFMS Institutions (Armed Forces Medical Services)
Now, due to the Supreme Court’s ongoing hearing and policy uncertainty regarding answer key transparency, the MCC decided to pause the process to ensure that future decisions align with judicial directions.
Implications for candidates:
- Students get additional time to review colleges and make informed decisions.
- The delay may push back the counselling schedule for subsequent rounds.
- MCC has urged aspirants to frequently check its official portal for the next update.
What Is the Core Issue in the NEET PG 2025 Supreme Court Hearing?
At the heart of the legal debate lies the transparency of NEET PG 2025’s evaluation process. The petitioners have raised concerns that candidates do not receive answer keys or raw scores, making it impossible to verify their marks or challenge discrepancies.
The National Board of Examinations (NBE), however, has argued that releasing answer keys publicly could compromise the confidentiality of future exams since several questions are reused or modified in subsequent years.
The Supreme Court’s observations include:
- Candidates deserve clarity on how marks are calculated.
- Transparency builds trust in national-level exams.
- Confidentiality concerns must be balanced with fairness.
- The NBE must justify its reasons for not sharing answer keys.
The court emphasized that transparency is not optional but essential when a national exam determines postgraduate medical admissions across India.
What Happened During the Previous NEET PG Hearings in 2024 and Early 2025?
The current case isn’t the first time the Supreme Court has intervened in NEET PG-related matters. In April 2025, the apex court directed authorities to publish raw scores, answer keys, and the normalisation formula, ensuring merit-based admissions.
Later, in September 2025, a bench led by Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan issued notices to both the Central Government and NBE, seeking detailed responses on the matter.
Timeline of Key Events
| Date | Event | Court/Authority | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 29, 2025 | Supreme Court ordered transparency in result publication | Apex Court | Directed publication of raw scores & formula |
| September 26, 2025 | New petitions filed regarding answer key disclosure | SC Bench (Pardiwala & Viswanathan) | Notices issued to NBE & Centre |
| November 7, 2025 | SC bench heard NBE on answer key confidentiality | Bench (Narasimha & Pancholi) | Directed NBE to file affidavit |
| November 8, 2025 | MCC extends Round 1 choice filling indefinitely | MCC | Counselling delayed until further notice |
This table outlines the progressive steps taken by the judiciary to address transparency concerns in NEET PG 2025.
How Does the NBE Justify Its Stand Against Publishing Answer Keys?
According to NBE’s counsel, the disclosure of answer keys may compromise question integrity, as coaching institutions could use them to predict or recreate future question sets. The NBE also emphasized that it already uses robust internal verification systems to ensure result accuracy.
However, petitioners counter this by stating that the right to know one’s evaluated answers is fundamental to fair assessment. They argue that since NEET PG is a highly competitive exam determining the future of medical graduates, transparency should outweigh institutional secrecy.
Arguments Presented by Both Sides
| Party | Argument | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| Petitioners | Seek publication of answer keys & raw scores | Promotes transparency, allows candidates to verify marks |
| NBE | Opposes full disclosure | Claims it risks exam security & question bank integrity |
| Supreme Court | Seeks balance | Demands affidavit explaining NBE’s official stance |
What Does This Mean for NEET PG 2025 Candidates Now?
For now, candidates are in a wait-and-watch situation. The counselling process has been temporarily halted, and the outcome of the Supreme Court’s directive to NBE could reshape how medical exams maintain transparency in India.
If the court mandates answer key publication, it could set a precedent for other exams like NEET-UG and FMGE as well. Students are encouraged to stay patient, track updates from MCC and NBE, and avoid relying on unofficial news.
Possible scenarios after NBE’s affidavit:
- If NBE agrees to partial disclosure, only provisional answer keys may be shared.
- If the court insists, full answer keys and normalisation data could become mandatory.
- If NBE’s stand is upheld, counselling may resume without disclosure, maintaining existing norms.
Will This Case Affect the Future of NEET PG and NExT?
Interestingly, the case also ties into broader reforms in India’s medical examination framework. The National Exit Test (NExT), set to replace NEET PG in the coming years, has been mentioned during court discussions.
While NExT promises a uniform, transparent evaluation model, authorities have confirmed that it will not be implemented immediately. Until then, NEET PG will continue as the primary exam for postgraduate medical admissions, but with greater scrutiny on transparency and fairness.
FAQs on NEET PG 2025 Counselling and Supreme Court Hearing
What did the Supreme Court say about NEET PG 2025 answer keys?
The Supreme Court directed NBE to disclose its policy on releasing NEET PG 2025 answer keys for transparency.
Why has NEET PG 2025 Round 1 counselling been extended?
MCC extended the Round 1 choice-filling indefinitely due to the pending Supreme Court directive on answer key disclosure.
Who issued the directive to the National Board of Examinations (NBE)?
The directive came from a bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Vipul Pancholi during a hearing on November 7, 2025.
What is the main issue in the NEET PG 2025 court case?
The core issue is whether the NBE should publish NEET PG answer keys and raw scores to ensure transparency.
What is NBE’s argument against releasing answer keys?
NBE argues that publishing answer keys could compromise future exams by exposing their confidential question bank.
How does this Supreme Court order affect NEET PG candidates?
It may delay counselling but could lead to greater transparency and fairness in future NEET PG result processes.
What was the original NEET PG 2025 counselling schedule?
The first round of choice filling was earlier scheduled between October 28 and November 5, 2025.
Has the Supreme Court made a final decision on this issue?
No, the court has only directed NBE to file an affidavit explaining its official stand on the answer key policy.
Will this order impact other medical exams like NEET-UG or NExT?
Yes, the verdict could set a transparency precedent affecting upcoming national medical exams including NEET-UG and NExT.
What should NEET PG 2025 aspirants do now?
Candidates should regularly visit MCC’s official website for updated counselling dates and court-related announcements.