NEET Paper Scam 2024: How NEET paper was leaked in Patna?

The 2024 NEET controversy arose due to multiple discrepancies in the conduction and result declaration of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) (NEET UG) 2024.

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The 2024 NEET controversy arose due to multiple discrepancies in the conduction and result declaration of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) (NEET UG) 2024. NEET UG, one of India’s largest entrance examinations for undergraduate medical programs, is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The controversy has led to widespread scrutiny, public outcry, and legal proceedings.

NEET Exam Scam 2024

The NEET UG 2024 examination saw approximately 2.4 million candidates across India sitting for the test on May 5, 2024. This exam is crucial for students seeking admission into medical colleges, making it one of the most competitive examinations in the country. The number of applicants has been on the rise in recent years, highlighting the growing demand for medical education in India.

NEET Exam Scam 2024	Details
Examination Name	National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) (NEET UG) 2024
Conducting Body	National Testing Agency (NTA)
Date of Examination	May 5, 2024
Number of Candidates	Approximately 2.4 million
Major Issues	Paper leak Discrepancies in results Allegations of unfair means

NEET Exam Paper Leak Incident 2024

The first major issue that came to light was a paper leak scandal in Gujarat. This scandal involved Vadodara-based international education consultants, educators, and at least 16 students who allegedly paid Rs 10 lakh each to pass the exam. Reports suggested that buyers were charged between Rs 20 to 25 lakhs (approximately USD 25,000-30,000) for examination papers. Specific centers, such as Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan Mehta Vidyalaya and Girls Higher Secondary Adarsh Vidya Mandir in Rajasthan, were implicated, with claims of students receiving the wrong medium of question papers.

NEET Exam Result Scrutiny

Suspicions around the NEET UG 2024 results grew when they were declared 10 days ahead of the scheduled date, coinciding with the 2024 Indian general elections. This early release, combined with the immediate publication of the official Answer Key, raised eyebrows.

The merit list revealed an unprecedented number of 67 candidates achieving perfect scores, compared to just three in previous years. Notably, eight of these top scorers were from a single exam center in Jhajjar, Haryana. Additionally, some candidates received theoretically impossible scores due to the allocation of grace marks.

One notable instance involved a large number of candidates challenging the answer key. The NTA awarded grace marks due to errors in older versions of National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbooks, affecting 44 top candidates.

NEET Exam Scam 2024 Public Reactions

The announcement of the results led to a significant backlash on social media and other platforms. Hashtags protesting the results trended widely, with students calling for an investigation and a re-examination. Public educators and ed-tech companies joined the debate, questioning the exam’s authenticity. Politicians, including Indian National Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, demanded a thorough investigation and criticized the government’s handling of the situation.

NTA’s Response on NEET Exam Scam 2024

In response to the allegations, the NTA conducted an internal investigation and declared the claims of a paper leak to be “completely baseless and without any ground.” The NTA justified the early release of results, stating it was unrelated to the general elections. Despite these assurances, the NTA’s lack of transparency fueled further distrust among students and the public.

Legal Proceedings and Investigation

The controversy led to multiple legal actions. Petitions were filed with the Supreme Court of India seeking a re-examination, although the Court denied the request to suspend the test results. Other legal challenges included a petition in the Delhi High Court against changes to the answer key and a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Calcutta High Court questioning the odd marks distribution. Additionally, calls for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe were made.

On June 8, 2024, the NTA announced the formation of a four-member panel by the Education Ministry to reassess the grace marks awarded to 1563 candidates.

Conclusion

The 2024 NEET controversy has sparked widespread concern over the integrity of one of India’s most important entrance examinations. With ongoing legal proceedings and public dissatisfaction, the controversy underscores the need for greater transparency and accountability in the administration of such crucial tests. The resolution of this issue will be closely watched by students, educators, and policymakers alike.

NEET Exam Scam 2024 FAQs

Is there a possibility of re-NEET in 2024?

The scorecards of 1,563 NEET-UG 2024 candidates seeking admission into medical colleges will be scrapped after they were given grace marks, the Centre told the Supreme Court today. Affected students can opt for a re-test on June 23 and the results will be declared on June 30.

What is the NEET result scandal?

Godhra school teacher named, Tushar Bhatt is accused of the NEET exam cheating scandal, 7 lakh were found in his car, while cheques worth 2.50 crore were found from the office of Parshuram Roy who is a director of the coaching centre. Reportedly, this money was given by the students.

Is the NEET 2024 exam cancelled?

The ministry on Wednesday cancelled UGC-NET conducted by the National Testing Agency following inputs that the integrity of the examination may have been compromised.