The results of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET-UG 2024, announced on Tuesday, June 4, have surprised many, as 67 candidates have achieved the All India Rank 1.
Many students and teachers have raised questions about how anyone can score 718 marks, stating that it is impossible. After 720, you can only score 716 marks, and 718 marks are not possible. Furthermore, the NEET merit list released by the National Testing Agency (NTA) showed that eight students from the same center scored 720 marks, adding to the suspicion and discussions online.
The NTA has issued a clarification on this. NTA said that candidates who reported losing time during the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG 2024) have been given grace marks.
“NTA received few representations and court cases from the candidates of NEET (UG) 2024, raising concerns of loss of time during the conduct of the examination on May 5, 2024. Such cases and representations were considered by the NTA, and the normalization formula, which has been devised and adopted by the Hon’ble Apex Court, vide its Judgment dated June 13, 2018, was implemented to address the loss of time faced by the candidates of NEET (UG) 2024,” the NTA said.
NEET EXAM 2024
The NTA announced the NEET-UG Result 2024 on June 4. Out of the 24,06,079 candidates who registered, 23,33,297 appeared for the examination, and the exam was conducted on May 5, accommodating over 24 lakh candidates.
The exam took place in 13 languages across 4,750 centers in 571 cities throughout India. Reportedly, a record-breaking 67 students topped the NEET UG this year, each achieving a percentile of 99.997129.
NEET-UG is the qualifying entrance exam for admission to various medical and healthcare courses, including Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS), Bachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine, and Surgery (BAMS), Bachelor of Siddha Medicine and Surgery (BSMS), Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery (BUMS), Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS), and BSC (H) Nursing courses.
Question Paper Scam
The NEET UG 2024 exam faced significant controversy this year following the exposure of a paper leak scandal in Bihar. Approximately 13 individuals, including four candidates and their relatives, were apprehended for their suspected involvement in the scam.
Patna police sources previously claimed that NEET-UG question papers—with answers—were provided to around 20 aspirants a day before the exam on May 5. The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police, which took over the investigation, disclosed that brokers involved in the scam charged between ₹30 lahks and ₹50 lahks from each medical aspirant in exchange for the leaked question papers.
Responding to these accusations, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed before the Supreme Court, urging a halt on the exam results. Despite the Apex Court declining to suspend the results, it agreed to deliberate on the issue and issued a notice regarding the PIL, which advocated for the re-conducting of the NEET UG exams due to alleged irregularities and a paper leak.
