The court examined a recent petition regarding the NEET-UG 2024 results, highlighting worries about score variations and potential favoritism towards specific students.

On June 11, 2024, the Supreme Court of India sent a notice to NTA (National Testing Agency) following a plea by ten NEET candidates requesting a retest for the NEET-UG 2024. The candidates alleged irregularities such as paper leaks and malpractice during the May 5, 2024, exam.

"It is not that simple… that because you have done it (held the exam), it is sacrosanct," the court told the NTA, "Sanctity of (the examination) has been affected… so we need answers." The Supreme Court's vacation bench, led by Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah, reviewed the plea and expressed concerns about the exam's integrity. The bench emphasized the need for answers due to the compromised sanctity of the exam. The NTA has been asked to explain, with the next hearing set for July 8, 2024.

notice to NTA
Image Source: Goal Institute

The court decided against postponing the counseling process for students who qualified for MBBS, BDS, and other medical programs. The NEET-UG 2024 results were announced on June 4, 2024, earlier than the anticipated date of June 14. Concerns were raised when 67 candidates scored a perfect 720 marks, with six reportedly being from the same or nearby exam centers.

The NTA faces scrutiny for granting grace marks due to time loss and general mismanagement during the exam. The education ministry has formed a four-member panel to investigate the allocation of grace marks to more than 1,500 candidates, as these marks are suspected to have led to unusually high scores.

On June 10, 2024, many students protested in Delhi, asking for a proper check on the NEET-UG 2024 exam issues. Avijit Ghosh, from JNU Students' Union, wants a fair and transparent investigation to keep the exam system honest. Students from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh said 67 students were getting full marks, and 13,000 students found mistakes in the answer key that needed to be clarified. They say giving grace marks without explaining why is unfair. Cheating in NEET messes up the fairness and quality of future doctors.

The NTA has set up a particular group to investigate the problems faced by 1,600 students who took the NEET 2024 exam. This group wants to solve the issues and ensure the exam is fair. The Supreme Court has asked the NTA to explain the reported cheating in NEET-UG 2024. Even with the investigations, counseling for students continues, showing the challenge of balancing a fair exam process with students' futures. The next hearing on July 8 will be necessary to decide what will happen next.

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