NEET UG Scam 2024: Dharmendra Pradhan assures ‘Harshest Punishment’ for the guilty

The NEET UG 2024 results, announced on June 4, faced widespread criticism from students and parents alike.

Legal challenges were filed against the results, highlighting three main issues: the provision of grace marks to some students, claims of a leaked question paper, and suspected irregularities at particular exam centers. 

Numerous voices demanded an investigation and a retake of the exam. As a result, a four-member committee was formed to review the NEET UG 2024 outcomes.

While compensatory marks have been scrapped by the Supreme Court on the basis of the panel’s recommendations and the option of re-test has been offered to those awarded grace marks, the other allegations will be reviewed by the Apex Court on July 8 this year.

The minister responded to opposition criticisms regarding alleged irregularities, inflated scores, and paper leaks in the medical entrance exam. Out of the 23 lakh candidates who took the exam, results were announced on May 5.

The NTA and the education ministry are investigating claims of a paper leak at several centers in Patna, which were reported by local police.

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) arrested 13 individuals, including four examinees and their family members, in connection with the incident. 

Government officials, however, stated that the number of candidates who passed from these centers was not substantial.

To ensure fairness, two sets of papers are typically prepared, with the final version selected on the morning of the exam.

The minister also emphasized the government's commitment to complete transparency for a crucial exam like NEET.

Earlier on Friday, Pradhan had indicated that scrapping the entire entrance examination was unlikely as the sanctity of the process could not be judged by alleged irregularities in a handful of centres.

Some states with a large presence of a powerful lobby of education institutes have been opposing NEET and officials argued that coaching centres were fanning the controversy as the syllabus was aligned with Class 12, helping more students secure high marks.