New Delhi: In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court has ended the speculation surrounding the NEET-UG 2024 exam. Contrary to demands for cancellation and retesting, the court has decided against it, citing a lack of concrete evidence of systemic paper leaks. However, this decision comes with its own set of implications.
Physics Question Controversy
The court addressed a contentious physics question that had sparked confusion among students. It clarified that two answers to a single question cannot be correct. As a result, the NEET-UG results will be revised for those who had chosen different options.
Impact on Students
Over 4 lakh students will be affected by this decision. Among them are the 44 candidates who secured a perfect score of 720/720. The court’s move to abolish grace marks for these top performers has raised eyebrows.
Paper Leak Investigation
While acknowledging that paper leaks occurred in Hazaribagh and Patna, the court emphasized that there was no widespread evidence of malpractice nationwide. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) confirmed the leak in the Hazaribagh center, but the scope remained localized.
IIT Delhi Report
The court received a report from IIT Delhi, led by Director Prof. Banerjee. According to the report, option 4 was the correct answer to the disputed question. Based on this, the court directed the National Testing Agency (NTA) to re-tally the NEET UG results accordingly.
Rank Adjustments
Candidates who initially scored 720 marks will now see their scores reduced to 715. Consequently, their ranks are expected to drop by at least 100 positions. Approximately 4.2 lakh students will be affected by this adjustment, impacting overall rankings.
New Merit List
The revised merit list will reflect final marks, recalculated ranks, and a new cutoff for admission to government medical colleges. Expectations are that the cutoff will exceed 550 scores.
While the controversy may have settled, the implications of this decision will resonate throughout the medical education community. Students, educators, and policymakers await further developments as NEET-UG 2024 enters a new phase.
