NEET Result 2024 Controversy: SFI, AISA, other outfits protest 'corruption' in results; want NTA scrapped

NEW DELHI: Left-wing student organisation Students' Federation of India (SFI) gathered today at the Ministry of Education to stage a protest against the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the irregularities surrounding the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET UG) 2024 exam. The NTA declared the NEET UG 2024 results on June 4 which has led to serious concerns being raised by parents and students about the evaluation process and irregularities in the examination.

Medical students around the country have taken to social media to voice their dissatisfaction and also accusing NTA of irregularities. Some candidates called for the cancellation of the NEET UG 2024 exam and requested a re-exam. Questions have been raised about students receiving 718 and 719 scores in the exam. The SFI has also called for the scrapping of NTA.

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Several student associations, academicians, and politicians have united demanding a fair and transparent exam system. Medical student unions have expressed significant concerns and requested that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigate the suspected paper leak and other anomalies in the NEET exam.

Several protest over NEET UG 2024 result on June 10

• The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) organised a protest at 10 am at the Ministry of Education, New Delhi.
• The All-India Students’ Association (AISA) called for an “All India Protest Day” alleging corruption in NTA. They have called for scrapping NTA over the NEET result irregularities.
• The Students Federation of India (SFI) Delhi also held a protest at 10 am today at the Ministry of Education, New Delhi. They have demanded for NEET UG 2024 cancellation and urged for conducting a re-exam.

NEET UG Result 2024 Protest: Key Allegations

Students and academicians have raised concerned about the following NEET UG 2024 irregularities

Students get impossible score of 718 and 719

This year, some students received 718 and 719 scores in NEET UG 2024, which protesters believe is impossible given the current marking system. According to the NEET UG 2024 marking scheme, candidates will get 4 marks for each correct answer and 1 mark will be deducted for incorrect answer.

Multiple NEET UG 2024 toppers from the same exam centre

According to reports, numerous top scorers were from the same exam centre. This raised questions regarding the integrity of the examination procedure at the venue. According to reports, eight students from the same exam centre in Jhajjar, Haryana, got 720/720 and were among the 67 students who secured a perfect score.

Two answers for one question

A dispute emerged over an erroneous answer key, particularly concerning a physics question where aspirants argued that two options were correct. Approximately 13,000 students challenged the NEET UG 2024 answer key for this question, as many abstained from answering due to the ambiguity and consequently lost four marks. Concerns were raised by several aspirants regarding fairness, stating that those who attempted the question and selected one correct option received five grace marks, whereas those who identified the potential for both options being correct and chose to skip were not similarly compensated.

Also read 1,563 NEET 2024 candidates got grace marks, 44 in AIR 1 due to physics question, clarifies NTA

Grace marks to complain time loss

The NEET-UG 2024 prospectus does not mention about awarding 'grace marks' to compensate 'time loss'. However, the agency granted 'grace marks' exclusively to individuals from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Chhattisgarh who approached high courts regarding the issue of lost exam time during the exam. Students and academics questioned how the NTA identified candidates who facedtime constraints.

NEET UG 2024 paper leak

The issue of the question paper leak was overlooked, despite at least three reported incidents. Police registered cases, leading to the arrest of over a dozen individuals. However, the agency proceeded to release the results, notably on the same day as the parliamentary election results were announced.

NEET UG Result 2024 Irregularities: Court cases filed

Several aspirants have taken legal action by filing petitions in various courts across India concerning the purported scandal. On June 1, a petition was submitted to the Supreme Court, urging the court to instruct the NTA to conduct NEET UG 2024 re-exam.