Petition Filed in Supreme Court Over NTA’s Controversial Grace Marks in NEET UG 2024

The announcement of NEET UG 2024 results has ignited significant controversy. Sixty-seven students were awarded All India Rank 1, with approximately half a dozen hailing from the same exam center.

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the National Testing Agency's (NTA) decision to award grace marks to 1,563 students in the NEET (UG) 2024 exam.

Petitioners argue that the compensatory marks granted for loss of time via the normalization formula are arbitrary, as reported by Live Law.

The announcement of NEET UG 2024 results has ignited significant controversy. Sixty-seven students were awarded All India Rank 1, with approximately a dozen hailing from the same exam center. Additionally, multiple students scored near-perfect marks of 718 and 719 out of 720, raising concerns about the integrity of the NTA and the examination process. Students and parents are calling for intervention from the Prime Minister and the Education Ministry to investigate these anomalies.

Key Issues Raised

Statistical Anomalies in Scores: The Indian Medical Association - Junior Doctors Network (IMA-JDN) questioned the statistical credibility of some students scoring 718 and 719 marks. They highlighted the absence of a defined logic for the grace marks awarded and noted that no detailed list of grace marks distribution has been shared.

NEET UG 2024 Paper Leaks:

Allegations of NEET 2024 paper leaks in multiple states have surfaced, with stakeholders criticizing the NTA's lack of action in response to these claims.

Undisclosed Grace Marks Provision: Critics argue that the provision for grace marks due to time wastage should have been disclosed in the examination's information bulletin beforehand, rather than being introduced post-examination.

Discrepancies in Scorecards:

Reports indicate that many students received different marks on their scorecards compared to their OMR sheets, with discrepancies occurring in centers not eligible for grace marks.

Unprecedented Number of Perfect Scores

Skepticism has been expressed over 67 students achieving a perfect score of 720 out of 720, a significant deviation from the usual three to four perfect scores. It was noted that six to seven of these perfect scorers came from a single center in Haryana.

Legal and Judicial Interventions

Calcutta High Court Demands NTA Response: The Calcutta High Court has demanded a response from the NTA regarding allegations of irregularities. The NTA must file an affidavit within ten days explaining the discrepancies and adherence to reservation policies in the merit list.

Delhi High Court on Grace Marks: The Delhi High Court is examining a petition against the NTA's decision to grant grace marks. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma has extended the NTA's time to gather instructions, with further hearings scheduled.

NTA's Stance on NEET UG 2024 and Actions

In a recent press conference, the NTA announced that there will be no re-examination for the 25 lakh students who took the NEET UG exam. However, a committee has been formed to investigate the grace marks awarded to 1,563 candidates, with potential modifications to their results or a re-exam for these candidates if necessary.

Additionally, a four-member committee has been established to address issues faced by approximately 1,600 students at centers where time lapses occurred. The NTA reassured that these instances were isolated and did not compromise the overall examination integrity. The agency firmly stated that there was no leak of the NEET UG exam paper, maintaining the transparency and fairness of the process.

As the controversy unfolds, all eyes remain on the Supreme Court and the subsequent actions by the NTA to address these significant concerns and uphold the integrity of the NEET UG examination process.

Read more:

• IMA Junior Doctors’ Network Raises Concerns Over NEET-UG 2024 Irregularities
• NEET UG 2024 Results Controversy: Students Demand Action from PM and Education Ministry