Centre Denies ‘Mass Malpractice’ in NEET-UG 2024 Results, Cites Data Analytics

The Centre has submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court, stating that there is no indication of “mass malpractice” or a localized group of candidates benefiting from the unusual results of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2024. The Centre’s claim is backed by the findings of data analytics conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras.

According to the data analytics, the distribution of marks in the exam followed a bell-shaped curve, which is typical of large-scale exams. This suggests that there is no abnormality in the results. The Centre has also informed the Supreme Court that the counselling session for undergraduate seats for the 2024-25 academic session will commence from the third week of July in four rounds.

The Supreme Court is set to hear a batch of pleas related to the medical entrance exam on Thursday, including those claiming irregularities and malpractices in the test and seeking directions for a retest. The Centre has established a high-level committee of experts to recommend effective measures for conducting transparent, smooth, and fair exams by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

The NTA has also conducted an analysis of the distribution of marks in NEET-UG 2024 at the national, state, city, and centre levels. The analysis indicates that the distribution of marks is normal, with no extraneous factor influencing the results. The NTA has also detailed the system in place for ensuring confidential printing of question papers, transportation, and distribution.

During a previous hearing, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud referred to the paper leak as an “admitted fact” and emphasized the need to be aware of the extent of the leak, considering the 23 lakh students involved. The Centre and the NTA have previously stated that scrapping the exam would be “counterproductive” and “seriously jeopardize” the prospects of honest candidates, as there is no evidence to suggest a large-scale breach of confidentiality.

The NEET-UG 2024 was taken by 23.33 lakh students at 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 cities overseas, on May 5.