New Delhi: The NEET-UG exam result controversies are brewing bigger and faster day after day raising a question mark on the National Testing Agency (NTA).
Many experts have expressed concern over the alleged lack of transparency in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG exam results.
The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed retest of 1,563 students who were given grace marks.
Several petitions were filed in the Supreme Court by students seeking a retest alleging irregularities and discrepancies.
Over 24 lakh students took the NEET exam on May 5 at 4,750 centers across 571 cities, including 14 international locations. The result was declared on June 4 which caused an uproar due to several issues including grace marks to 1563 students, and allegations of a leaked question paper.
This year, 67 students achieved a perfect score of 720, a significant increase from previous years (two in 2023, three in 2022, two in 2021, and one in 2020). Notably, six of the top scorers allegedly took the exam at the same centre in Haryana.
Now the voices are raised from different quarters to cancel the whole exam and even to do away the the NEET system.
Amidst all this buzz, Dynamite News has tried to sum up the NEET controversy.
1. NEET UG is the second largest exam in the country after the Common University Entrance Test (CEUT) in which the maximum number of students participate. This year, more than 24 lakh students appeared in the NEET exam.
2. The result of NEET exam was declared on the day when the Lok Sabha election results were also being annunced. Therefore, the NEET result came in the headlines after two-three days.
3. Students protested strongly against the result of NEET exam in many cities.
4. IMA Junior Doctors Network also raised the demand for CBI investigation of NEET exam result.
5. A number of petitions against the NEET exam results were filed in the Supreme Court amidst the protest of the students. The apex court also took cognizance of the matter and issued a notice to NTA.
6. The Supreme Court also asked NTA some sharp questions and even remarked that NTA was playing with the future of the students.
7. The matter is still pending in the Apex Court.
8. As per the SC verdict, NTA has cancelled the grace marks of the topper students and conduct their examination again. This exam will be held on June 23. But the students are still not satisfied with this.
9. Meanwhile, the connection of NEET exam with solver gang was also reported. The investigation about it is underway and several suspects have been summoned by the police for questioning.
Some pertinent questions raised on NTA
The biggest question about NEET result is how did 67 students get 720 marks out of 720. How did many students get 718 and 719 marks out of 720 and how did such a large number of students become NEET toppers?
The most surprising thing was that out of the total 4750 examination centers in the country, students from many centers secured top ranks but 8 students from the same examination center got 1st rank. This is also a big question.
Another big question being raised about the exam result is why did NTA not share any list of grace marks?
Questions on evaluation
In NEET exam, 4 marks are given for a correct answer and 1 mark is deducted for a wrong answer. In such a case, if a student leaves a question for example, he will get 716 marks. If he gives a wrong answer, he will get 715 (-4-1). In such a case, the biggest question that arises is how did the students get 720, 719, 718, or 717 marks out of 720?