June 8th 2024.
The recent NEET-UG medical entrance exam has been embroiled in controversy, with allegations of inflated marks and irregularities. In response, the National Testing Agency (NTA) announced that a four-member panel, set up by the education ministry, will review the grace marks awarded to over 1,500 candidates. The NTA, however, has denied any wrongdoing and stated that changes in NCERT textbooks and grace marks for time lost at exam centers were the reasons behind students scoring higher marks.
The issue has taken a political turn, with the AAP demanding a Supreme Court-monitored SIT probe into the alleged irregularities and the Congress accusing the BJP of cheating and playing with the futures of young students. There have also been calls for a re-exam from various quarters, claiming that the grace marks have led to an inflation of marks and unfair advantage for some candidates. These centers, including ones in Meghalaya, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and Chandigarh, have been at the center of this controversy.
The results of the medical entrance exam were announced on June 4th, with a record number of over 24 lakh candidates registered this year. NTA Director General Subodh Kumar Singh, in a press conference, announced that a high-powered committee headed by a former UPSC chairman will submit their recommendations within a week. He also clarified that the awarding of grace marks did not affect the qualifying criteria and the review of results would not impact the admission process.
Experts predict that the mark inflation in this year's NEET-UG result will make it harder for students to secure a spot in medical schools. Some students have taken to online platforms to demand the cancellation of results and a re-examination. When asked about the possibility of a re-exam for certain students, the NTA DG said it would depend on the committee's recommendations and the focus was on ensuring that no student is at a disadvantage.
The NTA DG also addressed concerns about paper leaks and irregularities in the exam, stating that the integrity of the test had not been compromised. However, the Congress in Kerala and Maharashtra government have raised concerns about the authenticity of the exam, and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has reiterated his party's stance against NEET-UG, stating that it goes against social justice and federalism.
The NTA DG also explained the increase in cutoff marks, stating that the competitive nature of the exam and higher performance standards achieved by candidates this year led to a larger pool of high scorers. He also clarified the rationale behind the awarding of grace marks, stating that it was done in accordance with a formula adopted by the Supreme Court in a 2018 judgement.
The concerns raised by candidates regarding the loss of examination time were acknowledged, and 1,563 candidates were compensated for their loss. The revised marks of these candidates vary from -20 to 720 marks, with two candidates scoring 718 and 719 marks due to compensatory marks. The NTA had earlier claimed that the distribution of wrong question papers at an exam center in Rajasthan led to some candidates walking out with the papers, but later reiterated that there was no leak of the question paper.
Overall, the NTA has maintained that the NEET-UG results are fair and the review of grace marks awarded to some candidates will not affect the admission process. However, there are still concerns and demands for a re-exam, and the matter continues to be a topic of discussion and debate.
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