The National Testing Agency (NTA) has decided to hold a retest for 1,563 NEET-UG candidates this Sunday, 23 June. This also follows their decision to cancel extra marks given earlier to compensate for delays at exam centers in Meghalaya, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and Chandigarh. This action resulted in controversy and accusations of unfair advantage.
The retest will take place at seven centers, with six being new and only the Chandigarh center will remain unchanged where just two candidates will appear. Officials from NTA and the Union Education Ministry will supervise the exams to ensure that they run smoothly. This highlights the commitment to maintaining the exam’s integrity.
The need for a retest came into discussion after it was discovered that six students had scored perfect 720 marks, with another 61 students also achieving high scores. This raised suspicions of inflated marks due to the grace marks awarded to make up for the earlier delays. The decision to hold a retest aims to tackle these concerns and ensure a fair evaluation process.
The NTA’s decision to conduct the retest follows broader allegations of misconduct in the NEET-UG examination which includes claims of paper leaks. These allegations have cast a shadow over the reliability of the exam which caused the authorities to take corrective measures.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has confirmed that NEET-UG will not be canceled. He stressed that the careers of thousands of students who passed with fair means should not suffer because of some isolated cheating incidents. He emphasized the need to maintain the exam’s integrity while protecting genuine students.
The retest for 1,563 candidates is crucial for ensuring fairness in NEET-UG, a key exam for medical aspirants in India. The presence of NTA and Education Ministry officials at exam centers indicate their seriousness in handling these issues and rebuilding trust among students and parents.
Overall, the NEET-UG retest aims to address delays and suspicions of unfair scoring. The involvement of high-ranking officials ensures a smooth and just exam process.