NEET: The Exam That Lost Its Credibility

Paper leaks have become an unfortunate reality, making headlines across print, electronic, and social media platforms. One cannot simply ignore this truth. The controversy surrounding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) serves as a vivid example, highlighting the challenges faced in ensuring the fairness and credibility of competitive examinations.

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is a highly competitive exam in India for admission to undergraduate medical and dental programs. However, the exam has been plagued by controversies, including allegations of paper leaks, mark scams, and corruption.

The National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for conducting the exam, has been criticized for its handling of technical glitches, lack of transparency, and questionable decision-making.

The exam has also been criticized for its tie-breaking policy, which favors students who scored lower marks in certain subjects. The article raises questions about the integrity of the exam and the credibility of the NTA, and whether the CLAT judgment can be applied to NEET to provide a fair and just solution for students who were unfairly disadvantaged due to technical issues.

Ground Reality

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is a competitive exam for admission to undergraduate medical and dental programs in India. To be eligible for NEET, a candidate must have completed 17 years of age as of December 31st of the year of admission. The candidate must have passed the qualifying examination (Class 12 or equivalent) with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate, including subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics, as well as English as a compulsory subject.

For reserved categories such as SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD, the minimum required marks are 40%. Additionally, the NEET exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). NTA is an autonomous agency under the Department of Higher Education of India’s Ministry of Education. It has been approved by the Union Council of Ministers and established in November 2017 to conduct entrance examinations, admissions, and recruitment. NTA is responsible for conducting numerous national level exams for admission and fellowship in higher educational institutions related to engineering, medical, management and pharmacy.

Since its inception, the NEET has been beset by a series of controversies, including allegations of paper leaks, mark scams, and questionable decision-making by the NTA. These issues have been plagued by corruption and incompetence, casting a shadow over the integrity and credibility of the exam.

The consequences for innocent students who are struggling to access medical education due to corruption and malpractices that are deeply entrenched in Indian society.

The NTA has also been criticized for its handling of technical glitches, which have disrupted the exam process and caused inconvenience to students. Furthermore, the NTA has been accused of mismanagement, which has led to delays and inefficiencies in the exam process. Additionally, the lack of transparency in its operations has been a major concern, with many questioning the fairness and integrity of the examination process. Moreover, there have been allegations of bias towards certain groups, which has led to criticisms over the exam format and the representation of diverse groups.

This year, the NTA has made a historic decision by allocating grace marks to the students. This is unprecedented, as no such provision has been made in the past, and it did come in the social media after students began complaining on social media that the NTA responded. The agency did admit the additional grace marks, raising questions about why only a few students were given these benefits.

Test of Integrity or a Test of Corruption?

Since 2019, there have not been more than three toppers in any year of NEET UG. In 2019 and 2020, there was one topper each. There were three toppers in 2021, one in 2022, and two last year.

In contrast, this year saw a remarkable anomaly with 67 students achieving a perfect score of 720/720. The results were made public on June 4th. The NTA's lack of transparency and justification has also sparked controversy, particularly regarding the normalization formula used to award full marks to 67 students. Out of the 67 candidates who achieved a perfect score of 720/720, a surprising 44 succeeded not because they got every question right, but due to a peculiar circumstance. These top scorers had answered a basic physics question incorrectly - but received a helping hand in the form of "grace marks" that bumped them up to the top tier.

This unexpected twist has left many wondering what other surprises may be hidden beneath the surface of these impressive results. Interestingly, the NTA published its tie-breaking policy for the NEET UG 2024 in March 2024. As per this policy, if two or more candidates have identical marks or percentile scores, their ranking is determined based on:1. Marks in Biology (Botany and Zoology) 2. Marks in Chemistry 3. Marks in Physics 4. If still tied, a random selection procedure (draw of lots) is used to break the tie.

Despite the NTA's denials of any leaks, reports of identical marks and percentiles achieved by students from the same examination centre in Haryana have raised suspicions about a coordinated cheating effort or a breach in the exam process. A more serious issue has emerged involving an alleged cheating scam, where an educational consultant and a schoolteacher allegedly paid bribe to fraudulently pass the NEET exam. This scam has compromised the integrity of the NEET UG 2024 results. The NTA has denied any reports of question paper leaks, but the ongoing controversy surrounding the exam results has raised serious concerns about the integrity of the exam and the credibility of the NTA's handling of the situation.

The application number in ascending order has been criticized by some students and their supporters as an unfair criterion, as it is arbitrarily assigned and lacks any merit-based onsideration. Several students have raised valid concerns about the exam, including the fact that students with identical sequence roll numbers received identical scores. Moreover, the fact that students who scored high through corrupt means will go on to become doctors is a grave concern for the nation. This outcome is a source of national shame and raises questions about the integrity of the examination process.

A petition was filed in the Supreme Court by some students who alleged that the NEET undergraduate exam held on May 5 was compromised due to a question paper leak. The petitioners sought a fresh examination or a stay on the declaration of results.

The petitioners alleged that the paper leak undermined the merit-based selection process for medical colleges, favoring those who had access to the leaked papers and unfairly affecting honest and meritorious candidates. The NTA denied the paper leak incident and stated that there will be no re-exam for NEET.

Several students, parents, guardians, and subject experts alleged that the NEET paper was leaked on social media platforms, prompting students to demand the cancellation of the medical entrance examination. Despite their pleas, the authorities ignored their demands.

Timeline of Key NEET Controversies

• 2024 Scandal: Pre-examination leaks were uncovered, notably in Bihar.
• 2015 & 2016 Controversies: Early iterations of the medical entrance exam faced serious integrity breaches. The 2015 test saw students caught cheating using miniature Bluetooth devices, while allegations of an interstate paper leak surfaced in 2016.

Some parents did express their outrage and frustration. One parent's narrative reads:

“NEET 2024- A Saga

One nation, one exam. Going further, India is working on One Nation, one election. Sounds so sweet to hear however, have we considered the enormous magnitude of it? Exams such as NEET, JEE are for the future generations of the country which it looks forward to. Whose lives are we playing with? Students who are the future of the country? So, in turn, the future of the country? NEET 24 is just another such fiasco we have found ourselves in. Paper leaks? How can it be?

 

Does it not occur to the Indians that all should stand and give a standing ovation for the 67 students who have secured marks in the NEET? Let’s not be dishonest to an honest student. A student’s career can neither be sacrificed nor elevated.”

In general, it is common for exams to have contingency plans in place to address technical issues that may arise during the exam. In such cases, the exam authorities may consider compensating students who were affected by these issues. However, the specific circumstances and rules of each exam will determine whether compensation is necessary or possible.

In terms of pros and cons, applying CLAT judgment to the NEET exam could have both positive and negative effects. On the one hand, it could provide a fair and just solution for students who were unfairly disadvantaged due to technical issues. On the other hand, it could also create inconsistencies in the scoring system and potentially undermine the integrity of the exam. Overall, while this judgment may not be directly applicable to every situation, it does provide an important precedent for considering fairness and justice in cases where students are unfairly disadvantaged due to circumstances beyond their control. The justification for using the normalization formula, as cited in the 2018 report, shall be such that it takes into account the average performance of all the candidates who have taken the examination.

Restoring Fairness and Transparency

On June 8th, the NTA held a press conference to address concerns and clarify their stance regarding the NEET exam. The officials present at the conference emphasized that the NEET exam is a unique, large-scale competitive test of its kind globally, acknowledging that mistakes are inevitable in such a massive undertaking. However, the tone used during the conference suggested that the NTA was taking steps to rectify the issues that arose.

The officials acknowledged that there were errors in distributing question papers, which resulted in approximately 1,563 students having less time to complete their test. They also acknowledged that one question was flagged as potentially problematic, a rare occurrence in the history of NEET exams. Furthermore, the officials addressed complaints about paper leaks across India and assured cooperation with police authorities to investigate these incidents.

To prevent such mistakes in the future, the NTA pledged to provide training to staff at respective centers and take prompt action if errors occur. The agency also announced that a four-member committee has been appointed to investigate the matter, although the officials refused to disclose the names of the committee members.

When asked about how they applied the CLAT judgment rule, which was specifically designed for an online exam and explicitly mentioned not to apply it to medical and engineering exams, the official sidestepped the question and mentioned that the matter has been referred to the high-level committee for further investigation. The tone of the official's response seemed evasive and defensive.

The official claimed that they have nothing to hide from the public, but their reluctance to answer questions and reliance on the high-level committee to investigate further raised concerns about transparency and accountability. The message conveyed was that the NTA may be hiding more information than they are willing to admit.

A Demand for Change and Reform

It is crucial to verify the results of the NEET exam with utmost accuracy and fairness. The Supreme Court should establish a special committee of experts to conduct a thorough investigation into this matter. One potential strategy for addressing the issue could be to focus on a targeted re-examination rather than conducting a comprehensive review of all students. Specifically, only those students who have already received grace marks should be allowed to retake the exam. Furthermore, only students who were affected by delays in their scheduled exam dates at testing centers should be permitted to participate in the re-examination. Students who have already completed their assessment without any disruptions or issues should not be required to retake the exam.

A thorough re-examination of the examination process is crucial to maintain its integrity. By doing so, we can guarantee that no student is unfairly disadvantaged or subjected to discriminatory treatment, thereby ensuring that the testing process remains impartial and transparent. This approach will safeguard the academic integrity of the institution, promote fairness, and provide a level playing field for all students.

Notably, the mental anguish of students is palpable as they will be forced to study again, amidst a state of turmoil and distress. This state of turmoil should not be forgotten or ignored, but rather brought to the forefront and addressed. Many are struggling to cope with their emotions, stemming from different moods, trauma, and depression. This sense of anxiety is exacerbated by a lack of faith in the examination system, as they worry about the possibility of experiencing similar disappointments in the future.

Concluding Remarks

A trend has emerged in India, where an increasing number of students have been achieving full marks even in language subjects. A notable instance of this trend is the recent NEET 2024 exam, which saw an astonishing 67 students awarded full marks. In some cases, students are receiving full marks without any apparent justification, leaving scope for potential malpractices and corruption.

To address this issue, future NEET exams should consider introducing a subjective session, in addition to the current objective format, to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of students' skills and abilities. The NEET should be scrapped and replaced with a state-level examination. The respective states should be given the autonomy to conduct their own medical entrance exams, reverting to the system that existed before the introduction of NEET. This would allow for more flexibility and adaptation to the unique needs and requirements of each state, ultimately leading to a more effective and equitable system.

It is crucial that the credibility of India's education system is not compromised by such incidents, which could undermine the faith of students, parents, and institutions alike. To maintain its reputation, it is essential to take proactive steps to ensure that exams are conducted efficiently and fairly, and that any issues that arise are addressed promptly and transparently, without any bias or favouritism.