NEET 2024 Scandal: Paper Leak And Scoring Irregularities Under Investigation

The NEET 2024 exam, held on May 5, has become embroiled in controversy following allegations of a paper leak. The issue is currently under investigation by authorities, with a final report yet to be presented to the courts.The full extent of the problem remains unclear. If proven true, the allegations could have serious implications for the integrity of the exam and the future of affected students.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has confirmed that some students were given incorrect question papers, leading to a loss of valuable exam time. To address this, the NTA awarded grace marks to 1,563 affected candidates.

However, the NTA’s justification for these grace marks has come under scrutiny. The agency claims it used a formula based on a 2018 Supreme Court judgement related to the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), an online exam. Critics argue this is inappropriate as NEET is an offline exam, and the 2018 ruling specifically excludes medical and engineering admissions.

Adding to the controversy, this year saw an unprecedented number of students achieving perfect scores. Initially, 23 students scored 720, but this number rose to 67 after corrections were made to the answer key. This sudden increase has raised eyebrows and sparked further questions about the exam’s integrity.

Additionally, the scoring system has come under fire. Given the penalties for incorrect or unanswered questions, it seems mathematically impossible to score 718 or 719 marks. The NTA has not provided a clear explanation for how the grace marks were calculated.

The application of the 2018 ruling’s formula to NEET has been widely criticised as unfair. The NTA’s unilateral decision to use this formula without proper validation has led to calls for greater transparency and accountability.

As the investigation continues, students, parents, and educators are anxiously awaiting clarity. The outcome of this inquiry will be crucial in determining the future credibility of the NEET examination process.