NTA denies leak claims, citing ‘seven-layer security’ in NEET-UG exam case

The Supreme Court recently heard a series of petitions related to the 2024 National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for undergraduate medical courses (NEET-UG). The NEET-UG exam case involves allegations of leaked question papers and incorrectly awarded “grace marks,” which have marred the exam results.

During the hearing, arguments centered around the integrity of the exam. IIT Madras analyzed candidate scores and found no abnormality in mark distribution. However, the focus shifted to the security protocol for transporting the allegedly leaked question papers.

The National Testing Agency (NTA), represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, denied any leak. Mehta emphasized the rigorous security measures in place, including GPS tracking and a seven-layer security system.

During the hearing, senior advocate Narender Hooda, representing the petitioners, expressed concerns about the chain of custody for the question papers. He pointed out that the papers were dispatched to centers on April 24 via a private courier. Questions arose after the CBI hinted at a possible leak during transportation or after arrival at a school in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh. Notably, one trunk of question papers was discovered traveling on an e-rickshaw on May 3 in Hazaribagh, exposed to the open sky. The Principal of the school, who received it, has since been arrested.

Mehta reiterated that the CBI had thoroughly investigated the transport chain. However, when the court inquired whether a private courier company was involved in dispatching the NEET papers, Mehta deferred his response.

Petitions for Retest

The Supreme Court clarified that a re-test would only be ordered if the “sanctity” of the May 5 exam was significantly compromised due to leaked questions. This echoed the court’s earlier stance, advising against a re-test unless substantial evidence of systematic leaks affecting the entire examination emerged.

During the hearing, the National Testing Agency (NTA) presented contrasting numbers. While 131 petitioners, not among the 1.08 lakh selected students, seek a retest, 254 others oppose it. Mr. Hooda, representing the petitioners, argued that analyzing such a massive dataset (nearly 24 lakh students) makes it challenging to establish variances.

The NTA, however, cited data analyzed by IIT Madras, which revealed a bell-shaped curve in mark distribution—typical for large-scale exams—with no abnormality. The report also attributed an overall increase in marks (specifically in the 550 to 720 range) to a 25% reduction in syllabus.

Mr. Hooda contested this analysis, emphasizing that it should focus on the 1.08 lakh students who passed the exam. He questioned the ability to detect abnormalities when analyzing data from 23 lakh students and insisted that granular variations remain hidden in such large datasets.

Additionally, Mr. Hooda demanded transparency regarding the top 100 ranks. The IIT Madras report highlighted city-wise toppers, with Bengaluru having the maximum representation. Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu also featured prominently.

The controversy erupted after allegations of question paper leaks orchestrated by a national “solver gang” network on social media. Unusually high perfect scores—67 students scoring 720—raised red flags. Authorities also faced scrutiny over the award of “grace marks” to 1,563 students.

In an affidavit filed recently, the government, citing IIT Madras analysis, maintained that there was no indication of “mass malpractice” or evidence that some candidates had benefited from cheating. The CBI, responsible for investigating the case, has filed six cases and arrested nine individuals, including Rakesh Ranjan (alias Rocky), one of the alleged masterminds. The incident has also sparked a political debate, with the Congress-led opposition clashing with the ruling BJP in Parliament during discussions on President Droupadi Murmu’s joint address.

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