Supreme Court Orders NBE to Clarify Policy on NEET PG Answer Keys

The Supreme Court of India has directed the National Board of Examinations (NBE) to submit an affidavit clarifying its official policy on the publication of answer keys for the NEET-PG examination. The directive was issued on Friday by a bench comprising Justices P. S. Narasimha and Vipul Pancholi, during a hearing on multiple petitions demanding greater transparency in postgraduate medical entrance examinations.

The petitions, filed by candidates and advocacy groups, question the opaque nature of the NEET-PG evaluation system. They demand that the NBE make public the answer keys, raw scores, and normalisation formula used in determining final results. Petitioners argue that withholding such information creates doubts about the fairness and accuracy of the exam process, especially in a high-stakes examination that determines medical postgraduate admissions across India.

During the proceedings, the Supreme Court sought a written affidavit from the NBE explaining whether the Board intends to publish the answer keys. If not, the affidavit must state clear reasons for the decision. The court emphasised the importance of transparency in national-level examinations that affect thousands of medical aspirants annually.

The NBE, represented by its counsel, opposed the petitions, arguing that disclosure of answer keys could undermine the integrity of the examination system. According to the NBE’s legal representative, the demand for publishing answer keys is being driven largely by private coaching institutes seeking to exploit the data for commercial use. The Board contended that maintaining strict confidentiality is necessary to preserve the quality, fairness, and credibility of the NEET-PG exam.

This latest order follows an earlier directive issued on April 29, in which the Supreme Court had underscored the need for openness in exam evaluation. That ruling called for the publication of raw scores, answer keys, and normalisation details in major national-level exams. The current directive reinforces that position, demanding a structured and accountable explanation from the NBE.

In a related development, the Supreme Court has also noted that the NEET-PG 2025 will be held in a single shift across India to ensure fairness and uniformity in evaluation standards. The move comes amid ongoing scrutiny of how postgraduate medical exams are conducted and assessed.

The NBE has been granted time to file its affidavit, after which the court will review the Board’s policy framework and determine further action. The matter is expected to return for hearing in the coming weeks, marking another step toward ensuring transparency and trust in India’s medical entrance examinations.