Supreme Court says no mass malpractice in NEET-UG 2024
On Wednesday, the Union government submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court, opposing the demand for a retest.
The Supreme Court has ruled that there is no widespread malpractice in the NEET-UG 2024 exam, rejecting calls for a retest. This decision follows a detailed report from IIT-Madras, which found no evidence of large-scale cheating.
On Wednesday, the Union government submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court, opposing the demand for a retest. The government highlighted an IIT-Madras report that confirmed the integrity of the NEET-UG 2024 exam. This report was based on extensive data analysis and showed no signs of widespread malpractices or unfair advantages for candidates.
Affidavit by National Testing Agency (NTA)
The National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for conducting NEET, also filed an affidavit. It stated that only 47 candidates, 17 in Patna and 30 in Godhra, were suspected of involvement in irregularities related to paper leaks and OMR sheets. The NTA emphasized that a video circulating on Telegram, which allegedly showed leaked NEET-UG exam papers, was fake and manipulated.
IIT-Madras Report on NEET-UG Ranks
The IIT-Madras report, requested by the Ministry of Education, analyzed the top 140,000 NEET ranks for 2023 and 2024. The analysis aimed to identify any abnormalities or undue advantages for certain candidates. The report concluded that there was no indication of mass cheating or localised benefits. The distribution of high scores was consistent across various cities and centres, indicating no large-scale malpractice.
The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, highlighted the importance of maintaining the integrity of the NEET-UG 2024 exam. The court noted that while there were concerns about the sanctity of the exam, a retest would only be considered if it could effectively separate wrongdoers from honest students to avoid disrupting the academic calendar and affecting millions of students’ careers.
The Centre’s affidavit detailed the steps taken to ensure the examination’s integrity and address any malpractices. It mentioned that the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare would oversee the counselling process for UG seats starting in the third week of July 2024. Any candidate found guilty of malpractice would have their candidature cancelled during or after the counselling process.
The NTA also stated that it is considering changing the examination mode from pen and paper (OMR based) to a computer-based test (CBT) mode to prevent future malpractices. Additionally, a high-level committee, headed by Dr K. Radhakrishnan, former chairman of ISRO and chairman of the board of governors at IIT Kanpur, has been established to recommend measures for enhancing transparency in future exams.
Future Directions: Transition to CBT and Legal Framework
To strengthen the legal framework against exam malpractices, the government referred to the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which came into effect on June 21, 2024. This act provides stringent punishments for cheating in public exams.
The Centre emphasized that it is committed to addressing the concerns of students who took the NEET-UG 2024 exam and is not approaching the litigation in an adversarial manner.
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