New Delhi: 63 NEET-UG Candidates Reported for Unfair Practices; 23 Debarred
In a recent update, the National Testing Agency (NTA) officials have reported that 63 cases of students using unfair means were identified in the NEET-UG exam. Of these, 23 students have been debarred for varying periods, as announced on June 12. The NTA reiterated that despite these incidents, the integrity of the medical entrance exam remains intact and no paper leak has occurred.
NTA Director-General Subodh Kumar Singh informed PTI that the results of the remaining 40 candidates involved in unfair practices have been withheld.
“A committee comprising three eminent experts in examination and academic fields was established to review various reported cases, including impersonation, cheating, and OMR sheet tampering,” stated Singh.
“Based on the committee’s recommendations, 12 candidates have been debarred from the exam for three years, nine candidates for two years, and two candidates for one year each. The results of the remaining candidates are withheld as per the panel’s suggestions,” Singh added.
The total number of reported unfair practices stands at 63, he confirmed.
The NTA is currently under scrutiny following allegations of irregularities and inflated marks in the crucial medical entrance exam. This issue has also reached the Supreme Court, which on Tuesday noted that the sanctity of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2024 has been affected. The court has sought responses from the Center and the NTA regarding another plea that calls for a retest due to alleged question paper leaks and other malpractices.
In response to protests from students and opposition parties, the Education Ministry last week established a four-member panel to review the grace marks awarded to 1,563 students, who were compensated for the time lost due to exam delays at certain centers.
“The panel has yet to submit its report. Depending on the recommendations, a retest may be conducted for nearly 1,600 students or an alternative mechanism will be devised to ensure no candidate is disadvantaged,” Singh noted.
Addressing allegations of mark inflation, which resulted in 67 candidates securing top ranks, Singh clarified that out of these candidates who scored 720 out of 720 marks, 44 achieved these marks due to the revision of the physics answer key, and 6 due to time loss adjustments.
“Only two candidates who received grace marks scored 718 and 719 respectively,” he concluded.
