The Supreme Court on Friday directed that the NEET-PG 2025 examination, scheduled for June 15, be conducted in a single shift instead of two.

A bench led by Justice Vikram Nath, along with Justices Sanjay Kumar and N. V. Anjaria, observed that holding the exam in two shifts could lead to arbitrariness. “Any two question papers can never be said to be having an identical level of difficulty or ease,” the bench noted.

The order came in response to a plea challenging the official notification that had earlier announced the exam would be held in two shifts. The Court directed the authorities to make the necessary arrangements to conduct the examination in one shift and to ensure full transparency in the process.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday reached out to Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, following the veteran politician’s sudden illness during an official diplomatic visit to Kuwait. Azad is currently under medical supervision and in stable condition, according to official sources.

PM Modi personally called Azad to enquire about his health and wished him a speedy recovery, acknowledging his key role in India’s international outreach efforts to counter terrorism propaganda emanating from Pakistan.

Azad, a former Union minister, is part of a multi-party Indian delegation tasked with conveying India’s zero-tolerance policy on cross-border terrorism to key global partners. The delegation is currently on a diplomatic tour across West Asia and North Africa following the recent India–Pakistan military face-off.

Azad’s Diplomatic Impact Recognized

BJP MP Baijayant Jay Panda, who is leading the delegation that includes Azad, confirmed on Tuesday that the DPAP leader is under observation and recovering well. “His contributions to our meetings in Bahrain and Kuwait were highly impactful,” said Panda. “He is disappointed at being bedridden but remains committed to India’s message.”

The delegation has been engaging leaders and officials in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Algeria, underscoring India’s position as a victim of cross-border terrorism, especially in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 dead.

India Launches Global Anti-Terror Campaign

The government had dispatched seven multi-party delegations to world capitals in response to the four-day military escalation with Pakistan in early May, part of Operation Sindoor, aimed at neutralizing terror infrastructure. These efforts are also intended to counter Pakistan’s international narrative, which seeks to portray India as the aggressor.

The delegations, comprising leaders from across party lines, are delivering a unified national message—India stands firm on zero tolerance for terrorism, and will no longer accept cross-border provocations in silence.

Strategic Diplomacy Amid Crisis

Azad’s presence in the delegation was seen as crucial, given his experience and diplomatic stature. Officials described his speeches in Bahrain and Kuwait as “resonant and well-received.”

A senior MEA official said, “Our message has been clear: Pakistan must dismantle the terror networks it harbors. These delegations are reinforcing this message at the highest levels of international diplomacy.”

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday firmly rejected opposition allegations that funds meant for other departments were diverted to the state’s flagship women’s welfare scheme, Ladki Bahin Yojana, calling the claims baseless and reflective of a poor understanding of budgetary processes.

Speaking to reporters in central Maharashtra, Fadnavis clarified that disbursements made through the Tribal Affairs and Social Justice departments for the scheme were in line with budgetary norms, which mandate that a portion of funds be allocated to personal benefit schemes for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).

“The accusations are unfounded. Only those who don’t understand the budget can make such claims,” Fadnavis said. “As per financial rules, funds for SC/ST communities should be allocated largely to personal benefit schemes, and the Ladki Bahin Yojana fits this category.”

He explained that the scheme’s classification under Tribal Affairs and Social Justice departments is merely an accounting mechanism, not a diversion of funds. The CM added that both departments have seen their budgets increased by nearly 1.45 times in the 2025-26 financial year, underscoring that no funds were reduced or misused.

Fadnavis also pointed out that Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who holds the finance portfolio, had already addressed the issue and provided similar clarifications.

About the Scheme

The Ladki Bahin Yojana, implemented by the Women and Child Development Department, provides a monthly stipend of ₹1,500 to economically disadvantaged women aged 21 to 65 years, whose annual family income is less than ₹2.5 lakh. The scheme played a crucial role in the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition’s sweeping victory in the state assembly elections held in November 2024.

Social Justice Minister Voices Dissent

Earlier this month, Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat of the Shiv Sena raised concerns over the Finance Department’s handling of the funds. Shirsat alleged that the department, led by Ajit Pawar, diverted funds from his ministry without prior consent, calling it “illegal and high-handed.”

Acknowledging the financial strain the scheme has placed on the state’s finances, Shirsat had said, “If this continues, the government might as well shut down the Social Justice Department.”

Fadnavis dismissed these concerns, reiterating that all allocations were made transparently and within legal and budgetary frameworks.

The Congress Party on Thursday alleged that the Centre is planning to convene a special session of Parliament on June 25–26 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Emergency—a move the party dubbed a “classic diversion and distraction” from pressing national issues.

Congress General Secretary in-charge of Communications Jairam Ramesh accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of deliberately avoiding parliamentary engagement on critical matters such as the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives.

“In the immediate aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian National Congress called for an all-party meeting chaired by the Prime Minister,” Ramesh said in a post on X. “Despite the gravity of the situation, that meeting has not taken place.”

Parliament Session for Emergency Anniversary?

Ramesh revealed that on May 10, both the Leaders of the Opposition (LoPs) in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha wrote jointly to PM Modi, urging him to convene a special session of Parliament—not for political anniversaries, but to demonstrate a unified national stance through a parliamentary resolution on the Pahalgam tragedy and national security.

“That suggestion was not accepted either,” he stated. “Now it appears a special session is being considered for the 50th anniversary of the Emergency. This is yet another exercise in deflection from real issues by a Prime Minister who has, in effect, imposed an undeclared Emergency on the nation for 11 years.”

There has been no official response from the Government or the BJP as of this report.

Questions Over Modi’s Silence and US Mediation Claims

The Congress also questioned PM Modi’s “continued silence” on US President Donald Trump’s claims that the India–Pakistan ceasefire in the aftermath of the recent skirmishes was mediated by Washington.

On May 7, India conducted precision strikes under Operation Sindoor targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan following the April 22 terror attack. This triggered retaliatory attempts by Pakistan on May 8, 9, and 10 to strike Indian military bases, which were repelled by Indian forces.

A ceasefire agreement was reached on May 10, following what Trump called “a long night of talks mediated by Washington.”

Ramesh demanded accountability from the PM on several fronts, stating, “Why are the Pahalgam attackers still absconding? Why did the PM allow Trump to broker a ceasefire? And why did he give China a clean chit publicly on June 19, 2020?”

Congress: Focus Should Be on Security, Not Symbolism

Congress leaders continue to demand that the PM confront national security matters head-on rather than engage in symbolic politics. “This is not the time to score political points over history. The nation deserves answers, leadership, and transparency,” Ramesh concluded.