A major row erupted just days after the National Testing Agency (NTA) announced the results of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test, Undergraduate (NEET-UG), required for admission to medical and other courses in government and private colleges.
The Ministry of Education has formed a four-member panel to re-examine the results of more than 1,500 students, who appeared for the
NEET UG 2024 exam and received grace marks, NTA DG Subodh Singh said.
The panel will be chaired by a former UPSC chairperson and will reassess the potential discrepancies in the results. It is expected to present its findings within the next week.
720/720 score The
NEET-UG 2024 results drew the attention of many over the extraordinarily large number of candidates who managed to achieve the perfect score of 720/720.
An unprecedented 67 examinees received the perfect score this time compared with two toppers last year, and one, three, one, and one back in the years 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019 respectively, The Indian Express reported.
Moreover, many have raised objections over some candidates getting 718 or 719 marks claiming that these were impossible to get in the scheme of the exam.
NTA clarifies Earlier,
the NTA issued a clarification stating that the increase in the cut-off marks this time and the number of toppers in the NEET-UG reflected the “competitive nature of the examination and the higher performance standards achieved by the candidates this year.”
The agency noted that compared to 20,38,596 candidates in 2023, this time a total of 23,33,297 candidates had appeared for the exam. This “naturally led to an increase in high scorers due to a larger pool of candidates,” it stated.
Further, it clarified that of the 67 candidates who got 720/720 marks, “44 are on account of the revision in one Answer Key of Physics and 06 are on account of compensatory marks for loss of time.”
NTA's Subodh Singh told PTI that earlier a grievance redressal committee was formed that looked into all the details of time loss of about 1,600 candidates from six centres. “... On that basis, the compensatory marks were given, but still there are some concerns about that. So, we have formed a high-powered committee, and that committee will look into all those issues and will give a report and recommendations within a week and on that basis, we will take action,” he noted.
He added that while the counselling process is yet to start, “Our efforts will be that this whole issue is decided in the least possible time. So that, the overall admission process should not be delayed.”
Opposition targets Centre Several Opposition governments and leaders have alleged injustice against the students in the NEET UG 2024 exams.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the matter so that the students can get justice in the matter.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said NEET and other entrance examinations are ‘anti-poor’ and “undermine federal polity”.
Around 2.4 million candidates appeared for the NEET-UG 2024 examination held on May 5 across 571 cities. As per the latest available data, a total of 1,08,940 MBBS seats are there in more than 700 medical colleges across the country.
