NEET-UG ‘Scam’: Centre Files Affidavit Before Supreme Court, Finds No Proof of Large-Scale Confidentiality Breach in Exams

The Centre has informed the Supreme Court that scrapping the NEET-UG 2024 exam would harm many honest candidates and is not justified without evidence of a large-scale breach of confidentiality. The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG), held on May 5 by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admissions to medical and related courses, has faced significant controversy. Allegations of question paper leaks have led to widespread protests, political debates, and multiple court cases.

In response to pleas for canceling the exam, conducting a re-test, and initiating a court-monitored investigation, the Union Ministry of Education stated that there is no proof of a large-scale breach of confidentiality. Over 23 lakh candidates took the exam at 4,750 centers in 571 cities. The Centre’s preliminary affidavit, filed by a director of the Ministry of Education, emphasized that canceling the entire exam and its results would be irrational without concrete evidence of widespread issues.

The affidavit highlighted that the rights and interests of the many students who took the exam fairly should not be compromised. It stressed that canceling the exam would unfairly affect the honest candidates who worked hard and did not engage in any unfair practices.

The Centre assured that it is committed to protecting the interests of these students. It acknowledged some instances of irregularities, cheating, impersonation, and malpractices during the exam. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been tasked with conducting a thorough investigation into these allegations. The CBI has taken over cases from different states and is actively investigating them.

Additionally, the Ministry of Education has formed a high-level committee of experts to recommend measures for conducting transparent, smooth, and fair exams by the NTA. This panel will suggest reforms in the examination process, data security protocols, and the structure and functioning of the NTA.

The government is dedicated to ensuring the integrity of exams and protecting students’ interests. To promote transparency and fairness, Parliament enacted the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which came into effect on June 21, 2024. This Act provides strict punishments for offenses related to unfair practices in public exams.

The Centre emphasized that it is not approaching the litigation adversarially and understands the concerns of the candidates who took the NEET-UG 2024 exam. The government is committed to conducting all competitive exams fairly and transparently. It recognizes the importance of maintaining the confidentiality of question papers and asserts that any criminal elements involved in breaching this confidentiality should be dealt with sternly and punished according to the law.

The Supreme Court is set to hear a batch of pleas on July 8, including those alleging irregularities in the May 5 exam and seeking a re-test. The Centre and the NTA had previously informed the court on June 13 that they had canceled the grace marks awarded to 1,563 candidates, offering them the option to retake the exam or forgo the compensatory marks.

The NTA released a revised rank list on July 1 after the re-test held on June 23. Initially, 67 students had scored a perfect 720, an unprecedented number in the NTA’s history, with six from a Haryana center raising suspicions of irregularities. It was alleged that grace marks contributed to these top scores. The number of candidates sharing the top rank decreased to 61 when the revised results were announced on July 1.