An IIT Madras report has shed light on a negative trend in the NEET-UG rankings of candidates in Patna, where the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is conducting an investigation. The report, which was submitted as an affidavit by the Centre to the Supreme Court in the ongoing NEET-UG controversy, suggests that if localized malpractices had occurred, Patna would have witnessed a significantly higher number of candidates clearing the exam and securing top ranks.
The IIT Madras analysis, conducted over two years (2023 and 2024), involved a city-wise and center-wise examination of the top 1.4 lakh ranks, considering the total number of seats across the country being around 1.1 lakh. The report revealed that Patna, a city where allegations of a question paper leak surfaced, has only two candidates in the top 100, with an increase of just one candidate compared to 2023. This trend extends across various ranking categories: in the top 500, Patna saw a reduction from five candidates in 2023 to four in 2024; in the top 1,000, the number decreased from 14 in 2023 to 12 in 2024; and in the top 5,000, the count dropped from 118 in 2023 to 78 in 2024. Similarly, in the top 60,000, the number of candidates from Patna went down from 1,993 in 2023 to 1,561 in 2024.
The report emphasizes that despite the CBI investigation in Patna, the number of toppers has not significantly spiked, suggesting the absence of widespread localized malpractices. However, the analysis highlights a contrasting trend in cities like Sikar and Kota in Rajasthan and Kottayam in Kerala, where there has been an increase in the number of candidates achieving high ranks. This increase is attributed to the presence of numerous coaching classes in these areas.
Furthermore, the report points out a significant rise in the number of candidates scoring between 700 and 720. This figure has jumped from 99 in 2022 to 350 in 2023 and further to 2,321 in 2024, representing a 2244 percent increase. Similarly, the number of candidates scoring between 650 and 699 has risen from 4,583 in 2022 to 6,939 in 2023 and 27,885 in 2024.
While these trends point towards a potential improvement in overall performance, the Centre’s affidavit maintains that the analysis does not indicate widespread malpractices or any specific group of candidates benefitting from anomalous scores. The affidavit attributes the overall increase in scores, particularly in the range of 550 to 720, to a 25 percent reduction in the syllabus. It further argues that the high-scoring candidates are spread across multiple cities and centers, suggesting a low likelihood of widespread malpractice.
In light of these developments, the Supreme Court, on July 11, adjourned the hearing of petitions seeking the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2024 exam, scheduling the next hearing for July 18th. The adjournment was granted to provide the petitioners time to respond to the affidavits filed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Centre on July 10th. The hearing was initially scheduled for July 15th but was moved due to the unavailability of the Solicitor General and the Attorney General on Monday and Tuesday and the observance of Muharram on Wednesday.
The Supreme Court is currently hearing a series of petitions regarding the NEET-UG 2024 exam, which include allegations of irregularities and malpractices during the May 5th test, leading to calls for a fresh examination. On July 8th, the Supreme Court expressed concerns about the compromised integrity of the NEET-UG 2024 exam.
In a separate petition filed on Wednesday, the Centre informed the court that the Ministry of Education has tasked IIT Madras with conducting extensive data analytics of the NEET-UG 2024 candidates’ results, as per the Supreme Court’s orders. The Centre also stated that there is no evidence to support widespread cheating or any specific candidate groups benefiting from irregular scores in NEET-UG 2024. The NTA, in its affidavit, refuted claims of a leaked question paper on Telegram, stating that the video displaying the supposed picture of the exam paper was a fake.
The Centre clarified that if any candidates are found to have benefitted from unethical practices, their seats would be cancelled, and the distribution of seats would be adjusted accordingly. The process of seat allocation will proceed as planned, with candidates allowed to change their seat preferences in the first and second rounds of counselling. However, any cancellation of seats before the third round, expected to begin in the second week of September, will not affect the overall counselling process or the allocation of seats. Seats vacated after the third round would be offered in the subsequent rounds, while candidates who had already secured seats in previous rounds would be ineligible to participate in the following rounds. The Centre further stated that seats vacated after the completion of four rounds could be used for further rounds of counselling.
