NEET PG 2025 Exam: Will Tensions Delay the June 15 Schedule?
Formfees
10/05/2025
12/05/2025 Update : Supreme Court News on NEET PG Amidst India-Pakistan Tensions
The ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan has created significant uncertainty around the conduct of national entrance exams, including NEET PG 2025. The Supreme Court is currently hearing a crucial plea regarding not only the fairness of the exam’s two-shift format but also the feasibility of holding such exams during a period of heightened national security concerns.
Impact of India-Pakistan Conflict on NEET PG
- The recent escalation in hostilities, including missile strikes, border skirmishes, and security lockdowns in several border states, has led to widespread disruptions in daily life, particularly in states like Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Delhi.
- Doctors’ associations and student bodies have urgently appealed to the government and the Supreme Court to postpone NEET PG and other major exams, citing grave concerns over the safety and security of candidates. Many exam centers are located in high-tension zones, and travel restrictions, curfews, and flight cancellations have made it nearly impossible for some candidates to reach their centers safely.
- Dr. Dhruv Chauhan (IMA-JDN) and Dr. Lakshya Mittal (UDF) have pointed out that, with events like the IPL and CA exams already cancelled due to the security situation, it would be unfair and unsafe to proceed with NEET PG as scheduled. They have highlighted not only logistical barriers but also the psychological distress faced by students with families in affected regions.
Supreme Court Proceedings
- The Supreme Court is currently considering a petition that challenges both the two-shift format of NEET PG (on grounds of fairness and transparency) and the practicality of conducting the exam amidst a national emergency3.
- The petitioners argue that the normalization process for different shifts is non-transparent and that holding the exam during a conflict violates students’ rights to equality and fair opportunity under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution3.
- The Court has issued notices to the Centre, National Medical Commission, and National Board of Examinations, seeking their responses. The next hearing is scheduled for later this week, with the exam still officially set for June 15, 202535.
Key Concerns Highlighted
- Security threats and travel bans in several states
- Curfews, blackouts, and communication disruptions affecting access to admit cards and exam updates
- Psychological impact and anxiety among candidates, especially those from border or conflict-affected areas
- Overstretched local administration focused on security and relief, making it difficult to ensure safe exam conduct.
Current Status
- As of now, NEET PG 2025 remains scheduled for June 15 in two shifts, but its conduct is under judicial and administrative review due to the extraordinary circumstances created by the India-Pakistan conflict.
- The Supreme Court is expected to deliver further directions after hearing all parties, with the possibility of postponement or additional safety measures being considered.
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Contents
Summary Table
| Issue | Supreme Court Action | Current Situation |
|---|---|---|
| Two-shift NEET PG format | Notices to authorities, hearing due | Under review |
| Security amid conflict | Plea for postponement, under review | Exam officially still scheduled |
| Student safety and fairness | Central to ongoing legal challenge | Awaiting Supreme Court decision |
Conclusion
The NEET PG 2025 exam has become a focal point of concern amidst the India-Pakistan conflict, with the Supreme Court actively reviewing both its format and timing in light of security, fairness, and student welfare. The outcome will depend on the evolving security situation and the Court’s forthcoming directions.
New Delhi, May 9, 2025: As India’s military operation Sindoor fuels cross-border tensions, questions are mounting over the fate of the NEET PG 2025 medical entrance exam. The National Board of Examinations (NBE/NBEMS) and the Health Ministry have not announced any change – in fact, official notices confirm the exam is still on June 15, 2025, in two shifts. In its April 16 notification, NBEMS explicitly stated, “NEET-PG 2025 will be conducted on 15th June 2025 on a Computer Based Platform in Two Shifts”. Aspirants are urged to apply by May 7 and to rely only on the NBEMS website (natboard.edu.in) for authentic updates. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) and UGC have both debunked viral rumors of any postponement as fake. In short, no official postponement has been announced, and official guidance stresses that exams will be held as scheduled.
Impact of Border Tensions on Exam Logistics
However, the border situation has prompted far-reaching security measures. State governments in Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh have shut schools, canceled leaves and deferred local exams. For example, Punjab authorities ordered all schools in six border districts (Ferozepur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran) to close, and Rajasthan closed all schools in four border districts (Sri Ganganagar, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer). Jammu & Kashmir’s government similarly shut schools and colleges in five border districts (Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, Poonch) as a precaution. Even Himachal Pradesh postponed its state-level technical entrance test (HPCET-2025) set for May 10–11. Flights have been canceled in some regions (e.g. Shimla airport), and families are evacuating students from sensitive areas.
These measures illustrate the wide lockdown effect: in Delhi, the city cancelled government leaves, and in border states curfews and blackouts were imposed late at night. Many campuses and exam centers are in or near these high-alert zones. For instance, NEET PG exam cities include Jammu, Samba, Srinagar (J&K) and Amritsar, Bathinda, Mohali, Pathankot (Punjab), as well as Bikaner, Ajmer, Hanumangarh, Jaipur (Rajasthan). (Ladakh has no listed center.) In such a volatile situation, organizing large exam halls, invigilators and travel for thousands of candidates could be challenging. The careers360 education site notes that state SET exams in J&K and Ladakh were “deferred till further orders”, and even Panjab University scrapped its May exams. Many students and some exam bodies worry that roadblocks, power cuts, or redeployment of security personnel could disrupt NEET PG logistics.
- Affected Exam Centers: Many NEET PG centers lie in or near high-tension areas. For example, Amritsar, Pathankot and Gurdaspur (Punjab); Jammu and Rajouri (J&K); and Bikaner, Jaisalmer (Rajasthan) are in border districts where schools are shut.
- Precautionary Closures: Punjab closed all schools in six border districts and canceled police leaves; Rajasthan closed government and private schools in five border districts.
- Other Exams Postponed: The ICAI postponed its Chartered Accountancy exams (May 9–14) nationwide due to security concerns. Himachal’s HPCET-2025 was shelved. Even state medical eligibility tests in JK and Ladakh were deferred.
Officials say that security takes priority. Border districts are on constant alert, and some exam centers (like Samba, Pathankot or Bikaner) have seen recent shelling attempts. Authorities also fear misinformation. In fact, the UGC and PIB have issued public advisories decrying fake notices. The University Grants Commission on May 7 warned that a fabricated notice claiming “all exams are cancelled due to a war-like situation” is “completely fabricated”. Likewise, the PIB Fact Check cautioned that an advisory to store supplies and stay home is a FAKE alert. In short, no genuine order has been given to postpone or cancel NEET PG – so far, it remains set to go ahead as planned.
Historical Context of Exam Postponements
Postponements in Indian medical exams have precedent, though usually for broader crises. The most recent example is the COVID-19 pandemic: in April 2021 Health Minister Harsh Vardhan announced that the NEET-PG 2021 exam (then scheduled for April 18) was deferred “in light of the surge in COVID-19 cases”. NEET UG 2020 was similarly pushed back from May to September 2020 due to lockdowns. More recently, NEET PG 2024 faced multiple reschedulings – initially set for March 3, it was moved to July, then to June 23, and ultimately held on August 11, 2024 (a change announced just hours before the exam). These shifts caused widespread anxiety among aspirants.
Aside from pandemics, large-scale conflicts have sometimes disrupted education at local levels. For example, during the 2016 Kashmir unrest, reopening of schools and colleges was repeatedly postponed. In 2025, even the NCERT board exams were allowed to proceed after Operations, but with extra security. No nationwide medical exam has ever been postponed explicitly due to a cross-border conflict alone. State and professional exams (like ICAI and HPCET) have been paused in this crisis, but the central exam bodies have kept NEET PG on track so far.
Key historical instances of postponement:
- COVID-19 (2020–21): NEET PG and UG exams were deferred, often just weeks before planned dates.
- 2024 Counseling Delays: NEET PG 2024 was delayed multiple times (rescheduled thrice).
- Regional Unrest: Protests or conflict in Jammu & Kashmir (2016) led to long school closures, but national exams remained scheduled.
Voices from Aspirants and Faculty
Given the uncertainty, medical graduates are taking to social media to vent and debate. A Hindustan Times feature notes that many fear a repeat of past delays. One doctor on Twitter, Dr. Mayank Pareek, wrote: “NEET PG 2025 was supposed to be on June 15, but now there’s talk of yet another delay… Thousands of doctors plan their lives around this exam, and NBE treats it like a casual event. Unacceptable!”. Another aspirant pleaded for a short postponement: “Please postpone by a month or so. Exam should be conducted at least 4 to 5 months from completion of counseling… instead of guessing and being under constant stress”. A Medical Dialogues poll found 35% of respondents believe a delay is 100% likely, and only 15% are confident the schedule will hold.
By contrast, some urge caution. Experts point out that a last-minute postponement could cascade into chaos for internships and PG admissions. A second-year resident doctor told The Indian Express that repeated counseling delays have already doubled the workload on current trainees, and any further disruption would exacerbate stress on health services. Medical faculty also note that NEET PG timing is tightly linked to academic years nationwide; shifting it even by weeks can overlap with the new session or internship deadlines. So far, official advisers like NBEMS and NMC (National Medical Commission) have reaffirmed the June date as essential to keep training pipelines on track.
In sum, aspirant opinions are mixed. Many are anxious about any change: “Why can’t NBE stick to a schedule?” they ask. Some doctors on duty worry about staffing if fresh residents join late. Until any official directive emerges, NEET PG candidates continue preparation while watching both the clock and the news.
Social Media Buzz and Misinformation
The atmosphere of suspicion has fueled a torrent of online rumors. Apart from fake exam cancellation notices, social media feeds are abuzz with speculation and even petitions. A trending faux pamphlet falsely claimed “all exams are cancelled – return home now”, which the UGC and PIB swiftly labeled “completely fabricated”. Fact-checkers advise students not to forward such images and to rely only on official updates. On Twitter, some aspirants have been sharing unverified WhatsApp forwards and petition links, seeking to postpone exams for safety. So far these remain fringe and unendorsed; authorities stress that the NBEMS website is the only source of truth for NEET PG updates.
Social Media Snapshot: Students on X (formerly Twitter) voice anxiety: one reminded peers that last year’s exam was changed multiple times “only hours before commencement”. Another hashtag campaign (#PostponeNEETPG) gained temporary traction, but no formal petition has reached the NBE. In response to rampant panic, the Government’s fact-check portal and even the Health Ministry have repeatedly urged people “trust only verified sources” and warned of penalties for spreading disinformation.
Government and Security Advisories
While no official order has postponed NEET PG, authorities have issued other advisories around civilian activities. The Defence Ministry on May 9 asked media outlets and citizens to refrain from live coverage of military movements, warning that real-time reporting could endanger troops and thwart operations. State governments have likewise canceled leaves for police, army and emergency personnel in border districts to ensure preparedness. In Punjab, police leave was revoked; Rajasthan canceled leaves of all officials in four border districts. The Delhi government, anticipating fallout, even suspended its government servants’ leave.
At the same time, evacuation measures are underway: Himachal Pradesh’s Chief Minister announced safe relocation of 103 HP students from Kashmir colleges. The US Embassy in Pakistan has issued travel warnings to avoid the India-Pakistan border areas (a reminder of the heightened alert). However, crucially, neither central government nor military sources have advised canceling exams or exams in particular. The official line remains that normal life should continue while being cautious. As PIB fact-check succinctly put it: “The government has not issued any such [exam cancellation] advisory”. For now, NEET PG aspirants can only wait and watch, keeping preparations on track and eyes on official NBEMS updates.
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