Supreme Court to Hear NEET-UG Paper Leak Case Today: Centre and NTA Deny Widespread Leak

The CBI in its status report is likely to report that the NEET paper leak was localized and not on a mass scale.

The Supreme Court of India is set to hear the case regarding the alleged NEET-UG 2024 paper leak today. Both the Central Government and the National Testing Agency (NTA) have filed affidavits denying any widespread leak in the examination. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is expected to submit its findings later today.

The NTA has declared that the Telegram videos purportedly showing photos of the leaked NEET-UG 2024 paper are fabricated and manipulated. This claim is detailed in an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court.

Government and NTA's Affidavit on NEET Exam

The Union Government's affidavit denies any widespread leak in the NEET-UG 2024 exam. The Centre cited data analytics performed by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, which indicated that the marks distribution followed a typical bell-shaped curve, suggesting no irregularities.

“There is neither any indication of mass leakage nor a localised set of candidates being benefited leading to abnormal scores,” stated the IIT Madras experts' report, attached to the Centre's affidavit.

Key Points from IIT Madras Report:

The marks distribution aligns with a normal bell curve.

A city-wise and center-wise analysis for 2023 and 2024 revealed no abnormal patterns.

There was an increase in marks in the 550-720 range due to a 25% reduction in syllabus, not due to a leak.

On the previous hearing date, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud sought responses from the Union and NTA regarding the extent of the leak and the possibility of identifying and segregating wrongdoers from other candidates. The court suggested that if the integrity of the exam was significantly compromised, a re-test might be necessary, though this would be a last resort due to its impact on nearly 24 lakh students.

CBI's Expected Report

The CBI is likely to report that the paper leak was localized and not on a mass scale. This report is expected to provide further clarity on the extent and nature of the leak.

Analysis of Telegram Video Allegations

The NTA has addressed the allegations of a leaked paper on Telegram, stating that the videos in question were manipulated. They indicated that the timestamps on the images were altered to falsely suggest an early leak. The NTA provided evidence, including a YouTube video demonstrating how dates can be edited on digital images, to discredit the claims made in the video.

Upcoming NEET Counseling and Steps Forward

The Centre has outlined steps to maintain the integrity of the exam, emphasizing a robust process for conducting fair and transparent examinations. The counselling process for NEET-UG 2024 will commence in the third week of July, with strict measures in place to cancel the candidature of any individual found guilty of malpractice at any stage.

On July 8, Chief Justice Chandrachud has acknowledged the gravity of the situation, noting the need to determine the systemic nature of the leak and its impact. The court will evaluate whether a re-test is necessary based on the extent of the leak and the feasibility of identifying candidates involved in wrongdoing.

The Supreme Court's decision today will be crucial for the future of medical admissions in India, affecting nearly 24 lakh students who appeared for the NEET-UG 2024 exam.

Read more:

• Supreme Court Orders Comprehensive Review on NEET UG 2024 Malpractices; Next Hearing on July 11
• 56 Gujarat Students Petition Supreme Court Against Re-NEET Amid 2024 Paper Leak Controversy