NEET 2024: Senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan responded to the most recent development in the NEET-UG (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate) dispute at the Supreme Court on Thursday, the day he assumed office as Minister of Education. Pradhan declared that if any irregularity is discovered, the implicated would face consequences. He continued, “The National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Indian government are dedicated to conducting fair exams.”
Denial of Corruption Allegations
“There is no corruption. In connection with the NEET examination, 24 lakh students appear in the examination. A hearing in the Supreme Court is underway today and this issue is regarding around 1,500 students. The government is ready to give answers to the court. This specific issue is being taken into consideration and a committee of academicians has been formed. The government will present this in front of the court. NTA conducts 3 major examinations that is NEET, JEE and CUET successfully in the country…We will take action against the people responsible,” the education minister said.
NTA Announces Retest for 1563 Students
The NTA’s statement that a retest of 1563 students who received “grace marks” in order to make up for the time lost during their NEET-UG appearance will be announced today itself, the Supreme Court took note of. The test is expected to take place on June 23 and the results will be announced before June 30 to avoid interfering with the start of counseling in July. The supreme court reaffirmed that they will not be stopping the counseling. Everything goes smoothly if the exam goes well, so there’s nothing to worry about.
Allegations of anomalies and mark inflation in the vital medical admission exam have the NTA under fire. The case made its way to the highest court, which declared on Tuesday that the NEET, 2024’s integrity had been compromised. A four-member panel appointed by the Education Ministry last week will examine the grace marks granted to 1,563 pupils as a way of making up for time lost when exams at some centers were delayed.
Clarification on High Scores
When asked about the claims of mark inflation, which allegedly resulted in 67 applicants receiving 720 out of 720, NTA DG Subodh Kumar Singh stated that six individuals received marks due to time loss, while 44 candidates received marks due to physics answer key revision. “Only two candidates who got grace marks have received 718 and 719 marks,” he added.
The NTA authorities stated that the changes were made in order to rectify discrepancies found in the NCERT textbooks, “which led to 44 candidates receiving full marks and revision leading to increased marks for many candidates, contributing to the high number of perfect scores.”