NEET 2024 Controversy: Perfect Scores, Early Results, and Allegations Rock Exam Integrity

The release of NEET 2024 exam results on June 4 has sparked significant controversy, causing widespread concern among students, parents, and educators. The main issues include the National Testing Agency’s (NTA) grace marks policy, suspicions of irregularities, and potential paper leaks.

The reason behind the controversy is when 67 candidates reportedly scored a perfect 720 out of 720, which is a notable increase from previous years’ scores, leading to raising doubts about the exam’s fairness. Further investigation revealed that six of these top scorers were from the same examination center which is situated in Haryana. Additionally, many students were awarded grace marks, which lead to an inflated number of top scores.

In response to these concerns, the Education Ministry has formed a four-member panel to investigate, with findings which is to be expected soon. Nationwide protests have erupted, with students calling for justice and transparency in the evaluation process.

Key points of the controversy include:

1. Record Perfect Scores: A historically unprecedented 67 students achieved perfect scores. This sudden increase has led to suspicions regarding the authenticity of the results.
2. Unusual Marks Distribution: The occurrence of candidates scoring 718 and 719 marks is highly unusual and indicates potential scoring irregularities, given NEET’s marking scheme.
3. Early Result Release: The results were announced on June 4, ten days earlier than anticipated, coinciding with the Lok Sabha poll results, leading to speculations of intentional distraction
4. Compensatory Marks for Time Loss: The NTA granted compensatory marks to candidates who experienced exam time loss at certain centers, leading to some achieving controversial high scores, including 718 and 719 marks.
5. Physics Question Discrepancy: A physics question with two correct answers due to textbook discrepancies led to 44 candidates receiving perfect scores, contributing to the overall high number of top scorers.
6. Allegations of Paper Leaks and Impersonation: Despite NTA’s denials, allegations of paper leaks persist, bolstered by ongoing investigations in Bihar. The NTA has identified cases of impersonation, but final investigation results are pending.
7. Increased Cutoffs and Student Frustration: The rise in the number of candidates this year naturally raised cutoffs, causing frustration among students and experts who feel the process was neither transparent nor fair. This has led to calls for re-examination and the removal of grace marks.

The NTA insists that the examination process was conducted fairly and that the integrity of the results remains intact. Nonetheless, the controversy continues to fuel debates, with widespread calls for comprehensive investigations and reforms in the NEET examination system.