NEET-UG 2024 Paper Leak Hearing Today: Centre’s Affidavit Raises Questions on Retest

As the Supreme Court prepares to hear a batch of petitions regarding the alleged paper leaks and irregularities in the National Eligibility Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2024 on July 11, the Union government has submitted a fresh affidavit, firmly opposing the demand for a re-test. The affidavit claims that a comprehensive report from IIT-Madras refutes allegations of widespread malpractices or illicit benefits to candidates at some select centres.

The NEET-UG, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), is the entrance examination for MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other related courses in government and private institutions nationwide. The exam, held on May 5, was marred by controversies regarding paper leaks and some students being provided grace marks. Over 40 petitions are reportedly listed for hearing in the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court, during its previous hearing on July 8, ordered the NTA to make disclosures on when the question paper leak took place, how the papers were leaked, and the time duration between the occurrence of the paper leak and the actual conduct of the NEET-UG examination on May 5. The top court also instructed the central government to submit affidavits detailing their actions and asked for a status report from the CBI regarding the NEET-UG examination. The court acknowledged compromise in the examination, stating, “The fact that the sanctity of the exam has been compromised is beyond doubt. It is an admitted fact that there is a leak, and the nature of the leak is something that we are determining. If it is not extensive, then there is no cancellation. But before we order a retest, we must be conscious of the extent of the leak as we are dealing with 23 lakh students.”

The Centre’s affidavit claims that there was neither any indication of “mass malpractice” nor a localised set of candidates being benefitted leading to abnormal scores in NEET-UG 2024. It further cited the data analytics conducted by IIT-Madras into the NEET UG results, stating that the marks distribution follows the “bell-shaped curve” that is witnessed in any large-scale examination, indicating no abnormality. The Union government’s affidavit also includes the measures it took to ensure the sanctity of the examination and address any malpractices.

The NTA, on the other hand, submitted an affidavit, maintaining that only 47 candidates have been suspected of engaging in paper leaks and irregularities relating to OMR sheets so far. The agency is considering the option to replace the mode of conduct of the examination from OMR (pen and paper) to online tests. The NTA also mentioned that it would rely on the IIT-Madras report during the proceedings on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the CBI has arrested eight people from Bihar and Jharkhand in connection with the alleged paper leak case. Two more people, including a NEET-UG candidate and his father, were arrested from Patna on Tuesday.

As the Supreme Court prepares to hear the case, students who appeared for the NEET-UG 2024 exam are eagerly waiting to know if they will be given a re-test. Will the court order a re-test, or will the Centre’s affidavit convince them that the exam was fair and transparent? Only time will tell.

Historical Context:

The National Eligibility Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) is an annual entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to undergraduate medical and dental courses in India. The exam is considered crucial for students seeking admission to top medical and dental colleges in the country. The NEET-UG 2024 exam was marred by controversies regarding paper leaks and irregularities, leading to widespread protests and demands for a re-test.

The Supreme Court has been hearing petitions related to the NEET-UG 2024 exam since July 8, when it ordered the NTA to make disclosures on the paper leak and the central government to submit affidavits detailing their actions. The court has also asked for a status report from the CBI regarding the NEET-UG examination.

Summary in Bullet Points:

• The Supreme Court is set to hear a batch of petitions regarding the alleged paper leaks and irregularities in the NEET-UG 2024 on July 11. • The Union government has submitted a fresh affidavit opposing the demand for a re-test, claiming that a comprehensive report from IIT-Madras refutes allegations of widespread malpractices or illicit benefits to candidates at some select centres. • The Centre’s affidavit claims that there was no indication of “mass malpractice” nor a localised set of candidates being benefitted leading to abnormal scores in NEET-UG 2024. • The IIT-Madras report states that the marks distribution follows the “bell-shaped curve” that is witnessed in any large-scale examination, indicating no abnormality. • The NTA has submitted an affidavit stating that only 47 candidates have been suspected of engaging in paper leaks and irregularities relating to OMR sheets so far. • The NTA is considering the option to replace the mode of conduct of the examination from OMR (pen and paper) to online tests. • The CBI has arrested eight people from Bihar and Jharkhand in connection with the alleged paper leak case, and two more people, including a NEET-UG candidate and his father, were arrested from Patna on Tuesday. • Students who appeared for the NEET-UG 2024 exam are eagerly waiting to know if they will be given a re-test, with the Supreme Court set to decide whether to order a re-test or not.