Government Contemplates NTA Reforms Amidst NEET Controversy; Announces Actions Against Culprits

Extensive changes in the National Testing Agency's operations and exam administration are under considerating by virtue of the NEET 2024 result controversy and backlash against grace marks to several students.

National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Undergraduate (NEET-UG) controversies have made the government mulling to reform the operations and management of the National Testing Agency (NTA). The government is thinking of making extensive changes in the NTA's operations and exam administration along with establishing a high-level committee to be established for recommendations. 

NTA announced the NEET UG result 2024 on June 4. Ever since the result was announced, the National Testing Agency faced backlash and several petitions were filed against the NEET 2024 result controversy highlighting some major concerns including, NEET question paper leak, irregularities at specific exam centres and grace marks allotment to several students. 

Meanwhile, NTA has decided to conduct a NEET 2024 re-exam on June 23 for 1563 candidates who were allotted grace marks in the NEET 2024 scorecards. However, the authorities refused to conduct a NEET UG re-exam for all candidates and decided to conduct NEET UG 2024 counselling as per the planned schedule. 

In the meantime, the Government has notified that strict actions would be taken against those who were found guilty in the alleged NEET UG 2024 scam. The government has assured students and parents that the government is taking the matter very seriously and necessary steps are being taken in the best interest of students, as reported by TOI. 

The government officials further notified that once the issue is resolved based on the investigation and court orders, significant reforms shall be taken in all aspects of conducting these national-level entrance examinations. 

Need For NTA Reform

NTA has witnessed as many as 1.23 crore registrations, for all the entrance examinations, making it the second largest examination conducted worldwide after China's Gaokao examination, which nearly had 1.29 crore candidates in 2023. 

Solely, NEET UG 2024 has over 24 lakh registrations, followed by 14.7 lakh registrations for JEE Main and 13.4 lakh registrations for CUET UG 2024. With these many students ' careers at stake, even a minor discrepancy affects a larger audience and questions the authenticity of exam conducting authorities. Hence, the government has decided to thoroughly review what happened in NEET UG exam and will take necessary steps to reform both the examinations and NTA. 

Read more:

• NTA NEET UG 2024 Re-Exam Admit Card To Release Soon; Know How to Retrieve Credentials
• NEET, NEET PG Counselling 2024 To Be Held As Per MCC Prescribed Dates; CENTAC Notifies