By Bhakti Manne
Taking into account the dissatisfaction of students and education
experts over the results of the common undergrad medical entrance
examination NEET-UG 24’, held on May 5; National Testing Agency
(NTA), the body which conducts the examination constituted a four-
member committee to probe the situation.
Post results there were astounding remarks, a very unusual number
of students (67) scored a perfect 720/720 and many scored
statistically impossible scores. Malpractices were suspected by the
anguished students, who were affected by this.
There is a series of grievances; primarily, awarding of grace marks
to certain students, alleged leaked question paper, providing wrong
question papers, irregularities at specific exam centres and technical
delays.
Masses protesting and demanding a re-NEET.
Amidst the probe and protests; on June 13, the Union Government
submitted to the Supreme Court that the scores of 1,563 candidates
who were given the grace marks in the examination will be
cancelled.
Re-test will be conducted for those students, presumably on June
23. If they do not opt for the re -test, the scores without the grace
marks would be their final score.
However, a re-test is a way of admitting that there were errors in
the conduct of the exam. Students arguing that the practical thing to
do is to cancel the May 5 exam and conduct a re-test for every
candidate.
Albeit, NEET is a national level examination with lakhs of candidates
appearing every year; minor errors are expected of it. Given that it
started nearly a decade ago, it was never expected that such a
‘confusion and mishap’ could occur.
Prevention of such an affliction in the future is paramount, to be
ensured by the NTA and the Government.
Bhakti Manne
