The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has dismissed claims made by the National Testing Agency (NTA) regarding out-of-syllabus questions in the NEET UG (Undergraduate) exam 2024. Dinesh Prasad Saklani, director of NCERT, stated that there was no truth in the NTA’s statement. During a media address at the Regional Institute of Education (RIE) of NCERT in Mysuru on Monday, Saklani emphasized that the revised NCERT textbooks, available since 2020 in both print and online formats, should have been used for question framing. He expressed confusion regarding the use of pre-2020 textbooks by the question paper setters.
The NEET UG exam 2024, conducted by the NTA for admission to MBBS and other medical courses, was held on May 5 across 4,750 centers. Approximately 24 lakh candidates participated in the test. Since then, controversies have erupted regarding alleged question paper leaks in states like Bihar and other irregularities, including claims of out-of-syllabus questions. Protests have erupted in various cities, and several petitions have been filed in high courts and the Supreme Court seeking investigations into the alleged irregularities.
The results, originally scheduled for June 14, were declared on June 4. A remarkable 67 candidates achieved a perfect score of 720 marks, with six from the same center in Faridabad, Haryana, featuring in the top list. Allegations have emerged that grace marks contributed to the shared top rank among these 67 students.
During a hearing related to the NEET UG 2024 exam, the Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed strong disapproval, stating that even the slightest negligence in the examination conduct should be thoroughly investigated. The SC emphasized, “Even if there is 0.001 per cent negligence on the part of anyone, it should be thoroughly dealt with.”
On June 13, the Centre and the NTA informed the apex court about the cancellation of grace marks awarded to 1,563 candidates. The candidates will now have the option to either retake the exam or forfeit the compensatory marks awarded for lost time, according to the Centre’s statement.
