NEET PG 2026 answer key row reaches Supreme Court over transparency concerns

The Supreme Court of India is currently hearing multiple petitions concerning transparency in the NEET-PG examination process, with a directive for the NEET PG 2026 answer key and response sheet expected. Aspirants for the national-level entrance exam, which determines admission to MD, MS, and PG Diploma medical courses, have consistently raised concerns regarding the non-disclosure of question papers, answer keys, and individual response sheets.

The ongoing legal challenge, which has seen hearings in 2024, 2025, and 2026, primarily focuses on the evaluation methods, normalization of marks, and the overall fairness of the examination conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE).

Supreme Court Questions Non-Disclosure Policy

The Supreme Court has repeatedly sought responses from the Union Health Ministry and the National Board of Examinations regarding the transparency issues. On January 27, 2026, the Supreme Court expressed doubt over the logic behind the NBE’s policy of not disclosing NEET PG question papers. The NBE had previously submitted an affidavit stating that non-disclosure aims to safeguard the ‘scarce national asset’s misuse and exploitation, especially by the coaching industry’.

A bench comprising Justices P S Narasimha and Vijay Bishnoi stated, “We will hear this matter in detail. We still need justification for this. We are not fully convinced. We will examine this.” This follows earlier interventions, including a September 27, 2024, request for the Centre to respond to a petition challenging the lack of transparency in the NEET-PG 2024 examination.

Aspirants’ Demands for Transparency

NEET PG aspirants have filed several petitions demanding greater transparency in the examination process. One petition, filed through advocate Tanvi Dubey, challenges the lack of clarity in the evaluation process and seeks directions to the NBE. This petition specifically demands the release of question papers and corresponding answer keys to candidates, along with details of which questions were marked correct or incorrect.

Also, the petition requests a mechanism for rechecking or revaluation and provisions allowing students to raise objections against disputed questions or answers. Petitioners in the NEET-PG 2024 case had argued that the examination method was “manifestly arbitrary and against the principles of transparency and fairness in state action as enshrined under Article 14 of the Constitution of India.” They also highlighted that “Any slight variation in marks would bar several candidates from specialising in their field of interest.”

Changes in NEET-PG 2024 and 2025 Examinations

The NEET-PG 2024 examination, conducted by the NBE on August 11, 2024, and with results announced on August 23, 2024, faced significant criticism. Aspirants claimed that the introduction of two shifts, a normalization method, and a change in the tie-breaker criterion just three days before the exam adversely affected students. The results released on August 23, 2024, did not provide the total score of the candidate, a departure from previous years.

The Supreme Court on September 20, 2024, questioned the NBEMS about its decision to make last-minute changes to the NEET PG 2024 exam pattern. For NEET PG 2025, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences issued the answer key with question ID on August 29, 2025. However, candidates who appeared for the NEET PG 2025 exams next filed a petition demanding more transparency in the question paper instead of just providing the question ID. The Supreme Court on September 1, 2025, heard a plea challenging this newly introduced disclosure mechanism.

Future Implications and Next Steps

The Supreme Court’s ongoing scrutiny suggests potential changes in how the NEET-PG examination is conducted and how results are disclosed. The directive for the NEET PG 2026 answer key and response sheet is anticipated to address some of the long-standing transparency concerns. The NEET PG is a computer-based test comprising 200 multiple-choice questions based on the MBBS curriculum, and its scores are used for admission in government, private, and deemed universities across India.

Candidates who took the NEET PG exam can register for the counselling process on the official website at mcc.nic.in. Students are advised to monitor the official website for updates on the NEET PG 2024 Counselling schedule and further developments regarding the ongoing transparency discussions.

Further reading

• NEET PG 2026 cut-off released: qualifying marks drop across categories
• NEET PG 2026 result: Dr. Monish Kanna R secures AIR 1 with 641 marks
• NEET PG result: date and how to check Next step
• M.Pharm 2026: Apply with B.Pharm scores, GPAT, or CUET PG for Delhi NCR admissions
• NEET UG 2026: Uttarakhand opens Round 3 NRI quota MBBS registration until 5 October Applications open
• NEET PG: complete exam guide

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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