Gurikripa Blogs

NEET (UG) 2024 was conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on 05 May 2024 from 02:00 PM to 05:20 PM (IST) at 4750 centers across 571 cities (including 14 cities abroad) for over 24 lakh candidates. 

Ever since the declaration of NEET 2024 result on June 4, 2024, students have raised questions on various anomalies in the NEET 2024 merit list, toppers and scoring system. Unlike the last few years, 67 candidates have scored full marks in the exam in 2024. Also, two candidates have scored 718 and 719 marks out of 720 in NEET 2024, which is impossible as per the marking scheme. In view of the recent queries raised by the candidates, the NTA has given the following clarification-

Clarification from NTA on how candidates got 718 and 719 marks

Compensatory marks for loss of time Few Writ Petitions were filed by the candidates of NEET (UG) 2024 before the Hon’ble High Court of Punjab & Haryana, Delhi, and Chhattisgarh, raising concerns of loss of exam time during the conduct of NEET (UG) 2024 on 05.05.2024, at few Exam Centres.

 

The concerns raised by the candidates, through the Writ Petitions and representations submitted to NTA required careful consideration for redressal. Therefore, a Grievance Redressal Committee consisting of eminent experts from the field of examination and academia, was constituted to look into such grievances/representations and to submit its recommendations.

 

The Committee considered the grievances/representations on the basis of factual reports of the functionaries and CCTV footage from concerned exam Centers. The loss of examination time was ascertained and such candidates were compensated with marks based on their answering efficiency and time lost, as per the mechanism/ formula established by the Hon’ble Apex Court, vide its judgment dated 13.06.2018 in W.P. 551 of 2018. 1563 candidates were compensated for the loss of time and the revised marks of such candidates vary from -20 to 720 marks. Amongst these, the score of two candidates also happens to be 718 and 719 marks respectively due to compensatory marks. On the analysis of the CCTV footage, it was ascertained that the integrity of the examination was not compromised at these Centers.

 

NTA's Clarification on High Number of Candidates Scoring full Marks

The number of candidates who appeared in 2023 was 20,38,596, while the number of candidates who appeared in 2024 increased to 23,33,297. The increase in candidates naturally led to an increase in high scorers due to a larger pool of candidates.

 

NTA received 13,373 challenges to the provisional answer key of one question in Physics. Due to the differences in the old and new editions of the NCERT textbook, the Subject Expert(s) held that two options be taken as correct in place of one option for this Question. Out of the 67 candidates who got 720/720 marks, 44 are on account of the revision in one Answer Key of Physics and 06 are on account of compensatory marks for loss of time.

 

NTA's Clarification on High Cut-off

The cutoff scores are determined based on the overall performance of candidates each year. The increase in cutoff reflects the competitive nature of the examination and the higher performance standards achieved by the candidates this year. Cut-offs and average marks of qualified candidates (out of 720) vary each year, as illustrated below:

 

 

NTA's Clarification Regarding Unfair Means Cases

Action taken in UFM cases are in accordance with existing rules, including the cancellation of candidature and debarment from future examinations of NTA.

 

NTA has registered cases against impersonators and some cases have been registered by the State Police. NTA has been extending support, wherever required, to the agencies in investigating cases pertaining to NEET (UG) 2024.

 

While the outcome of the investigation in aforesaid cases is awaited, NTA has categorically denied any case of paper leak. NTA also issued a detailed Press Release on 06 May 2024 stating that there has not been any paper leak as was being circulated on social media. The same stand has been reiterated and NTA maintains that the integrity of the examination was not compromised.