The NEET UG 2024 exam paper leak is an "undeniable" truth, according to the Supreme Court. The Court ordered that the authorities look into the extent and mode of the paper leak first, stating that a retest should be the "last option". The government and the National Testing Agency (NTA) were asked by the court to furnish information regarding the date of the leak, the method of distribution, and the actions done to ascertain the recipients.

The Court stated that it was concerned that the exam's integrity would be compromised and that it was necessary to determine whether or not the leak was widespread. In addition, the Court requested that the authorities investigate the possibility of using data analytics to separate candidates with and without taints.

NEET UG 2024
Image Source: GK

The Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, agreed that the fact of the paper leak cannot be ignored during the hearing of several petitions contesting the NEET UG 2024 exam.

"If we come to the conclusion that the time lag between the leak and the actual exam is limited, that will be a circumstance which will militate against the holding of a re-test," the CJI observed. "What is the modality in which the leak took place? If the modality of the leak is through electronic means and social media, then there is a possibility that the leak is widespread," the CJI added.

The bench found some "red flags" in the exam that need to be investigated, like the record-breaking 67 candidates who received scores of 100%.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Union Government have been demanded by the Court to respond to certain questions, such as:

When did the question paper leak initially happen?

In what way were the exam papers leaked and circulated?

How long did it take for the leak to occur and for the exam to be administered?

What actions did NTA take to pinpoint the locations of the centers and cities where the leak occurred?

To date, how many students have been found to have benefited from the leak?

If it is possible to separate the tainted from the unspoiled candidates and identify suspicious cases using data analytics.

Additionally, the CBI has been requested by the Court to provide a status report on the examination of the instances involving paper leaks.

Concerns over the actions that must be taken going forward to maintain the integrity of the NEET exam and prevent such incidents from happening again were voiced by the Supreme Court. "We do not live in an ideal world where there is no leak. But a retest affects the lives of 23 lakh students," the CJI remarked.

The question is how widespread the leak was, but the Court declared that it is "beyond doubt" that the exam's sanctity has been violated. The matter will be heard again by the Supreme Court on July 11, which will give the authorities more time to address the precise questions posed. The Court has stated unequivocally that retesting should only be done as a last resort and that before choosing a course of action, careful investigation of the paper leak and beneficiary identification should take precedence.

The result of this hearing will have a big effect on the NEET UG 2024 exam's future as well as the academic futures of thousands of students who took it.

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