NEET UG 2024 Paper Leak: Education Ministry Seeks Detailed Report from Bihar Police

In a parallel development, the Ministry of Education, Government of India, has announced the cancellation of the UGC-NET June 2024 Examination following concerns over its ‘integrity’.

The Education Ministry has requested a comprehensive report from the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of the Bihar Police regarding the NEET UG 2024 paper leak case.

In the matter pertaining to the NEET(UG) Examination-2024, the issue related to grace marks has already been fully addressed. As regards certain irregularities alleged in the conduct of the examination in Patna, a detailed report has been sought from the Economic Offences Unit, Bihar Police. Government will take further action, on receipt of this report.

“Government is committed to ensure the sanctity of examinations and protect the interest of students. It is reiterated that any individual/organization found to be involved in this matter will face strictest action, reads a statement from Education Ministry.

In recent developments, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan acknowledged irregularities in the NEET UG 2024 examination. On Sunday, June 16, he confirmed discrepancies in the results and promised strict action against any officials found complicit. Pradhan emphasized the necessity for reforms within the National Testing Agency (NTA), the body responsible for conducting NEET UG exam.

Two main issues were highlighted by Pradhan: the unwarranted awarding of grace marks to some students due to insufficient exam time and specific irregularities at two examination centers in Patna. These revelations have prompted the Education Ministry to seek further details from the Bihar Police’s EOU.

The NEET UG exam, conducted on May 5, 2024, saw a significant turnout of 23.3 lakh students, coinciding with the Lok Sabha elections. Results announced on June 4 showed an unusual number of 67 students achieving perfect scores, raising suspicions and leading to multiple petitions in various High Courts, including the Delhi High Court. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear these combined petitions on July 8.

During a Supreme Court hearing on June 13, the NTA disclosed the cancellation of scorecards for 1,563 candidates who received grace marks. These students will retake the exam on June 23, with results expected by June 30. An appointed committee will review the results of these candidates to ensure fairness.

Nationwide protests have erupted, with students demanding a re-examination and calling for a CBI investigation. The Congress-affiliated National Students' Union of India (NSUI) staged a demonstration outside Education Minister Pradhan’s residence in Delhi. Similar protests have occurred in various parts of the country, reflecting widespread student dissatisfaction.

In a related investigation, the EOU of Bihar Police discovered six post-dated cheques, allegedly linked to the paper leak mafia. EOU Deputy Inspector General Manavjeet Singh Dhillon revealed that over Rs 30 lakh was demanded from each candidate for the leaked question papers before the exam.

This scandal has cast a shadow over the credibility of the NEET UG examination process, prompting calls for rigorous reforms and accountability within the NTA and associated bodies. The government remains committed to ensuring the sanctity of examinations and protecting student interests, promising the strictest action against any individuals or organizations involved in this malfeasance.

UGC NET 2024 Exam Cancelled

In a parallel development, the Ministry of Education, Government of India, has announced the cancellation of the UGC-NET June 2024 Examination following concerns over the integrity of the examination process. This decision comes after inputs from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs indicated a potential compromise in the examination's integrity.

In a tweet, the Ministry of Education stated, "Government is committed to ensure the sanctity of examinations and protect the interest of students." To uphold this commitment, the Ministry has decided to cancel the UGC-NET June 2024 Examination and conduct a fresh examination at a later date. Details regarding the new examination schedule will be shared separately.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) had conducted the UGC-NET June 2024 Examination in OMR (pen and paper) mode on June 18, 2024, in two shifts across various cities in the country. However, on June 19, 2024, the University Grants Commission (UGC) received critical inputs from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of I4C, suggesting that the examination's integrity might have been compromised.