Supreme Court to Decide Fate of NEET 2024 Amidst Cheating Allegations

The Supreme Court is set to make a crucial decision today on the future of NEET-UG 2024, an exam taken by over 2.3 million students hoping to get into medical schools across India. The court will be hearing several petitions demanding a re-examination due to serious concerns about cheating and other irregularities during the exam held on May 5th.

The case has caused immense anxiety among students and sparked nationwide protests, with many claiming that question papers were leaked and marking schemes were manipulated. Adding fuel to the fire, 67 students achieved a perfect score, raising eyebrows and prompting accusations of foul play.

A three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, will now determine the validity of these claims and decide whether the exam, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), was compromised.

The government, however, is strongly opposing a re-test. In a statement filed with the court, the Ministry of Education argued that there’s no concrete evidence of widespread cheating and that scrapping the exam would disrupt the academic calendar. They maintain that isolated incidents of malpractice don’t warrant a complete overhaul.

Echoing this sentiment, the NTA, responsible for conducting several high-stakes entrance exams in India, called cancelling the exam “counterproductive.” They argue that it would unfairly punish deserving students for the actions of a few. The NTA insists that they are taking strict action against individuals involved in any wrongdoing and that the performance of students at the centers under scrutiny is consistent with the national average.

Despite these assurances, student organizations remain unconvinced. They continue to stage protests, demanding a re-examination to ensure a level playing field for all.

This isn’t the first time the integrity of NEET has been questioned. The Supreme Court itself has previously acknowledged the gravity of such allegations and stressed the need for absolute transparency in the examination process.

Adding another layer to the controversy, the government recently announced its decision to withdraw scorecards from 1,563 students who were awarded grace marks due to time lost during the exam. These students were given the option to retake the exam, but only 48% chose to do so.

The NEET controversy has become a political hot potato, with opposition parties accusing the government of jeopardizing the future of millions of students. The issue even reached the Parliament, with lawmakers engaging in heated debates.

All eyes are now on the Supreme Court as it prepares to deliver its verdict. The decision will not only impact the lives of millions of students but also set a precedent for how allegations of exam malpractice are handled in the future.