Today, On 3rd December, NEET PG 2024 is marred by controversies, including disputes over result transparency, sudden exam pattern changes, and normalization issues. The Supreme Court case seeking answer key disclosure remains pending, leaving candidates in limbo. Counselling delays further exacerbate frustrations, with legal hurdles in states like Madhya Pradesh and Telangana stalling the process. While the MCC has introduced a four-round counselling schedule with updates for AFMS admissions, uncertainties persist for aspirants.
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New Delhi: For medical aspirants in India, 2024 has been fraught with challenges. The year commenced with the NEET UG 2024 controversy, igniting nationwide protests, involving the CBI, and leading to numerous legal disputes.
Following this, NEET PG 2024 also became embroiled in legal issues, exacerbating the anxiety and frustration felt by countless students. Complications surrounding the counseling process for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET PG) have only compounded their difficulties.
Additionally, a legal challenge in the Supreme Court regarding the lack of transparency in the NEET PG 2024 administration has further heightened concerns among aspiring doctors.
Background of The Case
In September, the transparency issues related to NEET PG 2024 escalated to the Supreme Court, where a group of students filed a petition requesting the release of the answer key, raw scores, and details regarding the normalization process used to determine results. The National Board of Examinations (NBE) consistently refused to comply, citing confidentiality as a key aspect of its admission policy. The petition, filed on September 7, 2024, by 19 candidates, has faced multiple delays, with five postponements to date.
The initial hearing took place on September 20, but subsequent sessions were delayed first on October 4 due to the absence of then Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, and again on October 25 due to the lack of representation from the central government. A petition filed on November 12 sought to postpone NEET PG counseling until the matter was resolved.
However, on November 19, the Supreme Court deferred the hearing to November 26, which was later rescheduled to December 3 after a request for adjournment from the petitioners.
Key issues raised in the petition include the unexpected change in the exam pattern shortly before the test, which the court deemed “very unusual,” leaving candidates uncertain about the fairness of the examination process. Petitioners are also demanding access to their individual response sheets, question papers, and answer keys to ensure transparency. Nevertheless, the NBE maintains that releasing such information would compromise the confidentiality of the examination, a principle integral to its admission policy.
This stance has intensified frustrations among candidates who are questioning the accountability of the authorities. Despite NEET PG 2024 results being declared on August 23, uncertainty regarding the legal and procedural issues surrounding the exam persists.
While the legal battle over NEET PG 2024 unfolds, another significant issue has emerged: the counseling process. Registration for NEET PG Counseling 2024 began on September 20, but the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), responsible for managing the process, did not announce a deadline for registration.
As students awaited updates amid the ongoing Supreme Court case, a period of 40 days passed without a counseling schedule, leading to growing anxiety among candidates. Relief finally arrived on November 1, when the MCC released a detailed counseling schedule outlining four rounds: Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, and a Stray Vacancy round. The MCC also clarified timelines for All India Quota (AIQ) and state counseling.
According to the schedule, Round 1 registration ended on November 17, 2024, with seat allotment results announced on November 20. Round 2 registrations are set to begin on December 4, 2024. However, a sudden revision on November 7 introduced further complications. The MCC updated the NEET PG Counseling brochure, adding new details about eligibility criteria and admission procedures for Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS). This change came after a June 26 letter from the Directorate General of Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS), which emphasized a restructuring of counseling responsibilities for AFMS admissions.
According to media reports, the NEET PG 2024 counseling processes in several states, including Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, and Rajasthan, are facing legal challenges. In Madhya Pradesh, the High Court recently stayed the Round 1 seat allotment results due to irregularities in the normalization process used to create the state merit list.
The court highlighted that this process had resulted in unusual rank shifts, where students with higher scores were ranked lower than expected, prompting legal action. Similar issues have arisen in other states, causing delays in their counseling rounds. Despite these hurdles, several states have released their Round 1 seat allotment results for NEET PG counseling.