NEET-UG 2024 Crisis: A Look Back at The Paper Leak Scandal And The NTA Grace Marks Dispute

Conduct of the NEET-UG 2024 witnessed a massive controversy over allegations of paper leaks and the award of grace marks. Soon after the exam held on May 5 that year, there were reports that the paper had been leaked in Bihar and then transmitted to other states.

When the results were released on June 4, questions were raised after an unusually high number of candidates secured top ranks, including scores such as 718 and 719. A total of 67 candidates secured a perfect score of 720 out of 720.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) explained that compensatory marks had been awarded to some candidates due to “loss of examination time”.

Amid this, the Bihar police arrested several persons for allegedly selling solved question papers to several candidates in exchange for money. With NTA refusing to order a re-test, protests broke out in several states, and the Centre handed over the investigations to the CBI. The CBI found that the leak at originated in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh. The agency arrested several persons including high-profile medical colleges of the Centre.

The matter reached the Supreme Court which later allowed a re-exam for 1,563 candidates who had received grace marks was held on June 23, 2024. The test was voluntary for students who chose to take it.

In July, the Supreme Court declined to order a nationwide re-test, saying there was insufficient evidence to establish a systemic breach affecting the entire examination.

Security matter

NTA had maintained that the examination was conducted under a “full security protocol”.

This included GPS-tracked movement of question papers.

Biometric verification.

AI-assisted CCTV monitoring.

Deployment of 5G jammers.

NEET Clean up ideas

Following the NEET-UG 2024 controversy, the Centre constituted a committee headed by Isro former chief K. Radhakrishnan to recommend reforms in the functioning of the NTA and conduct of entrance examinations.

Key recommendations:

Minimise outsourcing of staff and examination centres.

Conducting entrance examinations online.

Adopting hybrid models where complete transition to computer-based testing may not be feasible.

Cap number of attempts in major entrance examinations, including NEET, to streamline process and reduce pressure on the system.

Not so NEET history

The National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) itself was struck down once, and has faced scrutiny in recent years over allegations of paper leaks and examination irregularities.

2013: NEET introduced as a single entrance examination for medical admissions across India.

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by then Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir struck down NEET as unconstitutional on July 18

2016: Supreme Court recalls its earlier judgment, restores NEET. Exam conducted in two phases.

2017: Tamil Nadu protests against NEET, medical aspirant S. Anitha, who had challenged the exam in NEET, dies by suicide.

2019: Major impersonation racket uncovered in Tamil Nadu. Several candidates used proxy candidates to write NEET.

2020: Concerns over holding test during Covid-19 pandemic. Supreme Court allows test to be held.

2022: Controversy in Kerala after female candidates were asked to remove innerwear containing metal hooks before entering centres.

2024: Paper leak allegations after 67 candidates, many from same centre get 720/720. Dozens of candidates get ‘unusual’ 718 and 719 marks. NTA says the unusual marks were becuase of grace marks given were papers reached late. Investigations into alleged paper leaks in Bihar and other states handed over to the CBI. In July, the Supreme Court declined to order a nationwide re-test, saying there was insufficient evidence to establish a systemic breach affecting the entire examination.