What’s NEET Paper Leak and Malpractices Controversy?

Govt Says Exam Process Fair; Overlooks Police Complaints, Arrests and Protests

Newsreel Asia Insight #251
June 14, 2024

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG (Undergraduate) 2024 exam, an essential pathway for students aspiring to medical careers in India, is currently embroiled in controversy due to widespread allegations of paper leaks and exam malpractices. The issue has sparked national concern, and caused considerable anxiety and stress among 2.3 million students who prepared for the exam.

The controversy over NEET UG 2024 stems from a multitude of incidents across various states that suggest systematic malpractice, according to media reports.

A writ petition filed in the Supreme Court by candidates Hiten Singh Kashyap and Palak Mittal calls for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation into these incidents that point to manipulation of exam centres and paper leaks on a mass scale. The petition specifically mentions the unusual concentration of students from distant states such as Odisha, Karnataka and Jharkhand at a single centre, Jai Jalaram School, in Godhra, Gujarat. It claims these students allegedly paid significant sums to secure their passage in the exam, as reported by Live Law.

Further deepening the controversy, a teacher in Gujarat was reportedly involved in facilitating cheating, according to a formal complaint registered in a police station in that state. The accused, identified as Tushar Bhatt, a history teacher and NEET centre superintendent, allegedly promised to solve the NEET exam paper in return for one million rupees, the petitioners assert.

In Bihar, the situation mirrors the administrative lapses observed in Gujarat but with its distinct local dynamics. An FIR lodged by the Patna Police details the involvement of an organised gang purportedly linked to previous paper leaks, including the Bihar Public Service Commission’s exam. The Economic and Cyber Crimes Division has taken over the probe. At least 13 individuals, including candidates and their parents, have been arrested.

Furthermore, compensatory scores/grace marks were awarded to at least 1,563 candidates due to a delay in the distribution of the correct question papers at certain exam centers which disrupted the normal examination process, leading to loss of time for the affected candidates.

This decision by the National Testing Agency (NTA) became a focal point of controversy and legal scrutiny. The arbitrary awarding of grace marks can skew the overall results and affect the fairness of the admissions process. Concerns have been raised about how these grace marks were calculated and the potential impact on the ranking and outcomes for all examinees.

Subsequently, the Union Ministry of Education set up a four-member committee to review the situation. As the controversy escalated, the Supreme Court intervened. The Court was informed about the decision to revoke the grace marks previously awarded, and the affected students were given the option to either retest or accept their original marks without the added grace. The compensatory scores were eventually rescinded. If the affected candidates choose not to participate in the re-test, their initial scores, excluding the grace marks, will be recognised as their final results.

What’s more, it was discovered that an unusually high number of students – 67 – achieved a perfect score of 720 out of 720, securing top positions nationally, as reported by Business Line. Critics argued that such a result was implausible. Moreover, a significant portion of these top scorers came from a single examination centre, which intensified the suspicions.

This controversy has disrupted the 2.3 million students’ academic and personal plans, leading to further stress and uncertainty. Students might also feel the reputational impact of the controversy, especially if they come from regions or centres specifically mentioned in allegations. This can affect their standing in future academic or professional settings.

However, the NTA, which has been criticised for its handling of the examination’s integrity, doesn’t want to admit its apparent failures. Despite numerous arrests, the registration of FIRs, protests by students and media reports, the NTA maintains its stance that there has been no compromise in the examination process, as reported by The Hindu.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has also dismissed the allegations, asserting there is “no concrete evidence.”