The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Central government in response to pleas seeking action against alleged paper leaks and malpractices in the NEET-UG exams.
During the hearing on Tuesday, the Supreme Court emphasized, "If there is 0.001% negligence on the part of anyone, it should be thoroughly dealt with."
NEET-UG, the primary entrance exam for undergraduate medical courses in India, was conducted on May 5 at 4,750 centers across 571 cities nationwide. The results were announced on June 4.
The decision to grant grace marks to 1,563 students after the announcement has sparked concerns among parents and teachers. Allegations of question paper leaks have surfaced in states like Bihar, along with other irregularities in the prestigious exam.
Amid mounting political pressure for action against the alleged paper leaks, the Centre assured that strict actions would be taken against anyone found guilty. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reiterated the government's commitment to taking strong actions against NTA officials involved in any irregularities during the NEET exams.
Previously, the Centre and NTA had informed the Supreme Court that the grace marks awarded to 1,563 candidates had been canceled. These students will now have the option to either take a retest or forgo the compensatory marks granted to them due to the loss of time.
Allegations of irregularities in the NEET-UG exam have led to protests in multiple cities and petitions filed in various high courts, including the Supreme Court. On June 10, students in Delhi held demonstrations, demanding a thorough investigation into the alleged misconduct.
Concerns have deepened as an unprecedented 67 students scored a perfect 720, including six from a single center in Faridabad, Haryana, which has raised suspicions of potential malpractices. There are speculations that the grace marks could have played a role in these high scores.
The NEET-UG examination, conducted by the NTA, is the gateway for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other related courses in both government and private institutions across India.
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