NTA Clarifies NEET-UG Cutoff Increase Amid Controversy
New Delhi: The National Testing Agency (NTA) clarified on Thursday that the increased cutoff and number of top scorers in the NEET-UG exam reflect its competitive nature and affirmed that the integrity of the test remains intact.
This statement came in response to allegations of irregularities in the NEET (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test), conducted on May 5 across 4,750 centers in 571 cities, including 14 international locations, as well as accusations of inflated marks.
“The increased cutoff reflects the competitive nature of the examination and the higher performance standards achieved by candidates this year,” a senior NTA official stated.
“The number of candidates who appeared in 2023 was 20,38,596, while the number in 2024 increased to 23,33,297. This increase naturally led to a higher number of top scorers due to a larger pool of candidates,” the official added.
Addressing concerns about grace marks awarded to some students, the NTA explained that several petitions were filed in high courts across Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Chhattisgarh, raising concerns about lost exam time at some centers.
“After verifying the claims made through writ petitions, 1,563 candidates were compensated for lost time, with revised marks ranging from -20 to 720. Among these, two candidates scored 718 and 719 due to compensatory marks,” the official said.
CCTV footage analysis confirmed that the examination’s integrity was not compromised, the official asserted.
Many NEET aspirants have alleged mark inflation, resulting in 67 candidates achieving the top rank, including six from a single exam center in Haryana.
Denying these allegations, the NTA attributed higher scores to changes in NCERT textbooks and grace marks for lost exam time.
In a post on social media platform X, the Congress party commented, “After the NEET exam, the NEET result is also controversial. Questions arise as six students from the same center score 720 out of 720. Other irregularities have also emerged.”
“Due to paper leaks and result errors, the future of many youths is at risk. This government seems unable to conduct exams without issues,” the party added, criticizing the current administration.
Explaining the mark inflation, the NTA stated, “We received representations about the issue, and following the Supreme Court’s judgment dated June 13, 2018, the normalisation formula was implemented to address the loss of time faced by candidates in NEET (UG) 2024.”
“Candidates affected by lost exam time were compensated with grace marks, leading to scores as high as 718 or 719,” the NTA clarified in a statement.
Responding to allegations of unclear implementation of grace marks, the NTA official mentioned, “The question paper was based on new NCERT textbooks, while some students had old versions. Representations on this issue led to the assignment of five marks to all students who marked one of two options, increasing the number of top scorers.”
Following court cases and representations about lost exam time, a committee reviewed the issue, confirming the loss of time and awarding grace marks accordingly, the official added.
Experts predict that the mark inflation in NEET UG 2024 will make securing a spot in medical school more challenging. Some aspirants have taken to online platforms to demand the results’ cancellation and a re-examination.
“Several students raise valid points. How did students with sequential roll numbers score identical marks? This issue must be investigated,” said Anubha Shrivastava, a lawyer and president of India Wide Parents Association.
One aspirant commented on X, “67 students scoring 720 out of 720 after the NEET paper leak raises suspicion. This jeopardizes the future of many candidates, leading to widespread anger. A high-level investigation is needed.”
Another X user, Nitish Rajput, criticized the NTA’s methodology for awarding grace marks, calling for greater transparency and urging Supreme Court intervention.
On May 5, the NTA claimed that the distribution of incorrect question papers at a Rajasthan exam center led to candidates leaving with the papers. The agency denied any leak of the question paper, reiterating that all reports of a leak are “completely baseless and without any ground,” with every question paper accounted for.
