NEET-UG Paper Leak Row: Centre Tells Supreme Court No Question Paper Found Missing, No Locks Broken

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has reiterated its stance on the alleged paper leak in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) controversy, stating that no question paper was reported missing and no breaches were discovered during the administration of the NEET-UG 2024 exam. The agency made this revelation in an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, which is currently hearing a series of petitions related to the contentious medical entrance exam.

According to the NTA, each question paper was uniquely serial-numbered and assigned to specific candidates, and no instances of broken locks were found. The agency also emphasized that the distribution of marks in the exam follows a typical bell-shaped curve, consistent with patterns seen in large-scale examinations, indicating “no irregularities”. This conclusion was arrived at through data analytics conducted by IIT Madras on the results of NEET-UG 2024.

The affidavit also provided details about the system in place for ensuring confidential printing of question papers, their transportation, and distribution. The NTA highlighted that discussions within a Telegram channel indicated that members identified a video circulating online as fake, with the timestamp manipulated to create a false impression of an early leak. Social media comments and discussions further corroborated that the images in the video were edited, and the date was intentionally modified to suggest a May 4 leak.

The NTA’s findings were supported by experts from IIT Madras, who observed an overall increase in marks obtained by students, particularly in the range of 550 to 720. This increase was seen across cities and centers, and was attributed to a 25% reduction in syllabus. The agency noted that candidates obtaining high marks were spread across multiple cities and centers, indicating a very low likelihood of malpractice.

The Supreme Court is set to hear the petitions on Thursday, which include allegations of irregularities and malpractices during the May 5 test and requests for a fresh examination. During a previous hearing on July 8, the court had remarked that the integrity of NEET-UG 2024 had been compromised, expressing concerns over the alleged breaches in the conduct of the examination.

In related news, the Central government has submitted an additional affidavit to the Supreme Court, disclosing that the counselling process for undergraduate seats for the academic year 2024-25 will commence in four rounds, beginning from the third week of July. The counselling process is a crucial step in the medical admission process, and the government’s announcement is likely to provide relief to students who are awaiting their results.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently probing alleged irregularities in the examination, and has apprehended eight individuals in connection with the Bihar case. The agency’s investigation is ongoing, and it remains to be seen whether any further irregularities are uncovered.