The result of the remaining 40 candidates who were found using unfair means have been withheld, the NTA chief said while reiterating that the sanctity of the NEET-UG 2024 test remains uncompromised.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Wednesday said sixty-three cases of students using unfair means in the NEET-UG exam but there was no paper leak, asserting that the sanctity of the nationwide medical entrance test has not been compromised.
Talking to news agency PTI, NTA Director General Subodh Kumar Singh said there are 63 cases of students using unfair means in NEET-UG out of whom 23 have been debarred for varying periods.
The result of the remaining 40 candidates who were found using unfair means have been withheld, the NTA chief said while reiterating that the sanctity of the NEET-UG test remains uncompromised.
“A committee was constituted consisting of three eminent experts in field of examination and academics to put forward different types of cases reported such as impersonation, cheating and tampering with OMR sheet,” the NTA DG said.
“On recommendations of the panel, 12 candidates were debarred from taking the exam for three years, nine candidates debarred for two years and two candidate for one year each. The result of remaining candidates has been withheld. The panel had given recommendations for each case,” he revealed.
NTA recently came under fire following allegations of irregularities and inflation of marks in the crucial medical entrance exam.
On Tuesday, the matter about questioning the sanctity of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2024. The apex court noted that the sanctity of the NEET-UG 2024 has been affected and sought responses from the NTA on another plea seeking holding of the examination afresh on grounds of alleged question paper leak and other malpractices.
Amid fire from protesting students and opposition parties, the Education Ministry had last week set up a four-member panel to review the grace marks awarded to 1,563 students to compensate them for loss of time due to delay in starting examination at certain centres.
“The panel is yet to submit its report. Depending upon the panel’s recommendations, either a retest will be conducted for nearly 1,600 students or an alternate mechanism may be devised to ensure no candidate faces any disadvantage,” he said.
Asked about allegations of marks inflation due to which 67 candidates have bagged top rank, Singh said, out of 67 candidates who got 720 out of 720 marks, 44 candidates received marks on account of revision of answer key of physics and 6 on account of loss of time.
“Only two candidates who got grace marks have received 718 and 719 marks,” he clarified.
(With PTI inputs)