Maha Govt plans to move NMC seeking cancellation of NEET 2024

Mumbai: Amid the allegations of the paper leak scam in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2024 exam and its 'shocking' results, the Maharashtra Government is planning to approach the National Medical Commission (NMC) urging it to cancel the exam. The State Medical Education Minister in Maharashtra, Hasan Mushrif confirmed this on Friday, as per HT report.

Meanwhile, the parents of medical aspirants and associations of medical colleges and doctors have also demanded a halt in the MBBS admission process. 

Their further demands are an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the NEET results, as they pointed out that grace marks were awarded to many students without any policy for the same.

Also Read:NEET Results Row: Doctors Extend Support to Aspirants, Write to NTA, NMC Demanding Investigation

Commenting on the alleged irregularities in NEET 2024 results, Maharashtra State Medical Education Minister Mushrif told Hindustan Times, "I believe the NEET exam results were declared after accepting bribes. Last year, only two of 720 candidates could clear the exam with full marks, but this year so many have secured full marks because grace marks were given to them."

He also claimed that no student from Maharashtra would be able to qualify for admission in either government or private run medical colleges this year because of the skewed results.

NEET-UG is the qualifying entrance exam for admission to 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), and Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS) and BSc (H) Nursing courses.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that NTA released the NEET scorecard yesterday i.e. on June 4, 2024. A record 24.06 lakh candidates had registered for NEET this year. The passing percentage is almost the same as last year at 56.2 percent.

NEET UG 2024 Results and Alleged Irregularities: 

This year's NEET results came as a shock to many as altogether 67 candidates secured the All India Rank 1 in the examination. Moreover, soon after the reports of a large number of students securing full marks i.e. 720 marks in the exam came to light, the allegations of the NEET paper leak scam started circulating on the social media platforms.

Several X users including doctors and health activists also referred to the NEET marking pattern and questioned how some candidates secured 718 or 719 marks in the exam, which seems impossible considering the NEET marking scheme. As per the NEET marking scheme, every candidate is awarded 4 marks for every right answer and 1 mark is deducted for every wrong answer. Therefore, after the full marks i.e. 720, the candidates can only secure 716 marks if they leave one answer unattempted. Similarly, a candidate would get 715 marks if he/she gives one wrong answer.

Concerns were also raised regarding multiple students securing the AIR 1 rank from the same centre. When NTA tried to justify these doubts stating that several candidates were awarded grace marks to compensate for loss of time, further questions were raised. NTA was requested to furnish details about the number of students who were awarded grace marks and the rules that were applied for granting such grace marks to students.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that this year's cut-off is unexpectedly high and due to this, candidates having a difference of only a few numbers have witnessed a significant difference in their ranks.

Protest by Medical Aspirants:

Raising their voice against these issues, recently medical aspirants were seen protesting, rallying and raising slogans against NTA in Kanpur, Varanasi and Lucknow.

Plea in HC & Supreme Court: 

Meanwhile, a plea has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking a fresh NEET UG 2024 examination. The candidates are also planning to seek a stay on the counselling process. Another plea was filed before the Patna HC seeking a CBI investigation into the irregularities in NEET UG 2024 results. 

Govt Constitutes Panel: 

Amid this uproar, NTA informed during the Press Conference on Saturday that the Education Ministry has formed a panel to reassess the results of more than 1,600 students who received grace marks in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2024 exams.