New Delhi
The Supreme Court is set to hear on Monday a group of petitions concerning NEET-UG 2024, the medical entrance exam marred by allegations of irregularities. The petitions include claims of malpractices during the May 5 test and requests for a fresh examination. The Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for conducting NEET-UG, have argued against scrapping the exam, stating it would harm honest candidates without evidence of widespread confidentiality breaches.
Scheduled for today, the court will address 38 petitions related to the exam. NEET-UG, managed by NTA, admits students into MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other courses across government and private institutions nationwide. The Ministry of Education and NTA oppose the petitions seeking exam cancellation, re-test, or court-monitored probe. They cite ongoing CBI investigations into state-level cases and defend the exam’s integrity, denying allegations of mass malpractice.
The government has formed a committee to recommend improvements in exam processes and data security. Initially expected on June 14, results were released on June 4 due to early evaluation completion. Allegations of irregularities, including leaked papers, have sparked protests and political disputes. The NTA revised results after cancelling grace marks for some candidates, reducing the number sharing the top rank from 67 to 61.
