The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): The National Testing Agency (NTA) clarified on Thursday, 6 June, that the increase in cutoffs and the number of toppers in the NEET-UG exam reflects its competitive nature. The agency maintained that the integrity of the test remains intact despite allegations of irregularities and mark inflation.
The NEET-UG, conducted on May 5 at 4,750 centers in 571 cities, including 14 abroad, saw a significant rise in the number of high scorers. “The increase in cutoff reflects the competitive nature of the examination and the higher performance standards achieved by the candidates this year,” a senior NTA official stated. The number of candidates rose from 20,38,596 in 2023 to 23,33,297 in 2024, naturally leading to more high scores due to a larger pool of candidates.
Addressing concerns about grace marks, the NTA explained that several petitions were filed regarding loss of exam time at certain centers. As a result, 1,563 candidates were compensated for the loss of time, with revised marks ranging from -20 to 720. Among these, two candidates scored 718 and 719 due to compensatory marks. The NTA assured that an analysis of CCTV footage confirmed the integrity of the examination was not compromised.
Several aspirants alleged mark inflation, noting that 67 candidates achieved top ranks, including six from the same exam center in Haryana. Denying these allegations, the NTA attributed the higher scores to changes in NCERT textbooks and grace marks for lost time.
In a statement on X, the Congress highlighted concerns over the NEET results and called for transparency. The NTA responded that the normalization formula adopted by the Supreme Court in 2018 was implemented to address the loss of exam time. “The loss of examination time was ascertained and such candidates were compensated with grace marks,” the NTA clarified.
Regarding allegations of unclear grace mark implementation, the NTA noted that discrepancies in textbooks led to additional marks for students. “We received a representation on this issue, resulting in five marks assigned to students who marked one of two options. This increased the marks of 44 students from 715 to 720,” the official said.
Amid calls for re-examination and demands for Supreme Court intervention, the NTA reiterated that the question paper had not been leaked. The distribution of wrong question papers at a Rajasthan center led to some candidates walking out with papers, but the agency denied any leak.
Experts anticipate that the mark inflation in NEET UG 2024 will make securing a spot in medical school more challenging. Anubha Shrivastava, a lawyer and president of the India Wide Parents Association, voiced concerns about the fairness of the exam. “We don’t want such doctors to serve our country. This must be investigated,” she said.
Several students and online platforms have echoed these sentiments, urging a high-level investigation into the exam results. The NTA remains firm that all question papers have been accounted for, dismissing claims of a leak as “baseless and without any ground.”