NTA Releases FAQs to Address NEET-UG 2024 Controversy and Scoring Anomalies

NEW DELHI: Amidst the NEET-UG 2024 controversy, the National Testing Agency (NTA) faces significant scrutiny over the examination's integrity. Allegations of irregularities, such as paper leaks and result validity concerns, have stirred uproar among students, parents, and political figures. The situation escalated when the Supreme Court intervened, pressing the NTA for clarifications amidst demands for a repeat of the NEET-UG exam in 2024.This development underscores the seriousness of the issue and its implications for the ongoing examination process.
Aiming to restore confidence in the NEET-UG 2024 examination process and assure all stakeholders of its commitment to upholding the principles of fairness and transparency, the NTA has released a detailed set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). This initiative seeks to address the widespread concerns and allegations of irregularities, providing clear explanations and insights into the measures taken to ensure the integrity of the exam. By doing so, the NTA hopes to reassure students, parents, and the broader educational community of its dedication to a fair and transparent examination process.
Petitioners' Concerns Over Fairness and Integrity
The petitioners in the case argued that various irregularities during the NEET-UG 2024 exam, particularly alleged instances of paper leaks, compromised the fairness and integrity of the examination. They contended that such malpractices violated the constitutional right to equality enshrined in Article 14, as certain candidates purportedly gained an unfair advantage over others. The petitioners' concerns were further exacerbated by the surprising outcome of the NEET-UG 2024 results, which revealed an unusually high number of candidates scoring perfect 720 marks.
Social Media Outrage and Political Pressure
Subsequent demands for a re-examination gained momentum as students and parents expressed their dissatisfaction with the NTA's handling of the situation. Social media platforms became inundated with hashtags denouncing the alleged irregularities and calling for justice, while complaints were lodged against the NTA across various High Courts. Political leaders, including prominent figures from the Congress, Samajwadi Party, and Aam Aadmi Party, echoed these sentiments, demanding a thorough investigation into the matter.
NTA's Response and Release of FAQs
Amid mounting pressure, the NTA issued a statement addressing some of the concerns raised regarding the NEET-UG 2024 results. The agency explained that certain candidates experienced a loss of time during the exam, prompting the use of a normalization formula to compensate for this discrepancy. Additionally, the NTA clarified the circumstances surrounding the perfect scores achieved by some candidates, attributing them to procedural errors and the application of established compensation measures.
FAQs Address Key Concerns and Provide Transparency
In response to the ongoing NEET-UG 2024 controversy, the Agency has released a comprehensive set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to address the various allegations and concerns surrounding the conduct of the exam. The 37 questions in the FAQs aim to provide clarity on issues such as the awarding of marks, compensatory measures, and the overall integrity of the examination process. This move by the NTA seeks to quell the unrest and provide transparency to all stakeholders involved.
Detailed Clarifications on Compensatory Marks and Scoring Anomalies
Among the key questions addressed in the FAQs are the role of the Grievance Redressal Committee in awarding compensatory marks for time loss during the examination and the methodology used to calculate these compensatory marks. Additionally, the FAQs clarify how candidates could achieve scores of 718 and 719 marks, which had raised doubts due to the examination's marking scheme. Another critical point of clarification provided by the NTA is the unprecedented number of candidates who achieved full marks in the NEET-UG 2024, which has been a significant point of contention.
Role of the Grievance Redressal Committee
The FAQs delve into specific details, such as the Grievance Redressal Committee's role and the reasons behind the compensatory marks awarded. The NTA explains that the committee, comprising experts from examination and academia, reviewed factual reports and CCTV footage to determine the extent of time loss experienced by candidates. The compensatory marks were then calculated based on a normalization formula established by a Supreme Court judgment in 2018, ensuring fairness in addressing the grievances.
Addressing Broader Concerns
Furthermore, the FAQs address broader concerns about the increased number of candidates scoring full marks. The NTA attributes this phenomenon to procedural adjustments and the compensation measures applied during the examination. By providing these detailed explanations, the NTA aims to restore confidence in the NEET-UG 2024 examination process and assure all stakeholders of its commitment to upholding the principles of fairness and transparency.
Here, we are providing you with a few questions and their answers to address some of the primary concerns related to the NEET-UG 2024 examination. These include details about compensatory marks, scoring anomalies, and the increased number of candidates achieving full marks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to Post Declaration of the NEET (UG) – 2024 Result
What is the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test NEET (UG)?
The National Testing Agency has been conducting the NEET (UG) since 2019 with the approval of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Education, in pursuance of the direction of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.
What was the role of the Grievance Redressal Committee in giving the Compensatory marks for time loss and why was it done?
Few Writ Petitions were filed by the candidates of NEET (UG) -2024 before the Hon’ble High Courts for loss of exam time in the NEET (UG) - 2024 exam at few Centres.
Accordingly, a Grievance Redressal Committee was formed which considered the grievances/representations based on factual reports of the functionaries and CCTV footage from concerned exam Centres. To compensate for the loss of time, such candidates were compensated with compensatory marks
How were the Compensatory marks calculated?
The loss of examination time was ascertained and such candidates were compensated with marks based on their answering efficiency and time lost, as per the mechanism/ formula established by the Hon’ble Apex Court, vide its judgment dated 13.06.2018 in W.P. 551 of 2018. 1563 candidates were compensated for the loss of time.
How can any candidate score 718 and 719 marks in the NEET (UG) – 2024?
Due to the compensatory marks, two candidates happened to secure 718 and 719 marks.
Why did a greater number of candidates get full marks in the NEET (UG) – 2024?
The number of candidates who appeared in 2023 was 20,38,596, while the number of candidates who appeared in 2024 increased to 23,33,297. The increase in candidates naturally led to an increase in high scorers due to a larger pool of candidates.
The NTA received 13,373 challenges to the provisional answer key of one question in Physics. Due to the differences in the old and new editions of the NCERT textbook, the Subject Expert(s) held that two options be taken as correct in place of one option for this Question.
Out of the 67 candidates who got 720/720 marks, 44 are on account of the revision in one Answer Key of Physics, and 06 are on account of compensatory marks for loss of time.
This revision led to increased marks for many candidates, contributing to the high number of perfect scores. This led to getting the full marks for 44 candidates in the NEET (UG) – 2024.
This adjustment aimed to address inconsistencies in NCERT textbooks, ensuring candidates were not disadvantaged by factual discrepancies.
It is pertinent to mention that the toppers are from across the country, as highlighted in the Press Release dated 04 June 2024.