NEET: Over 37k public suggestions received by Panel on exams, NTA reforms

New Delhi: After a seven-member panel constituted after the allegations of irregularities in NEET this year, invited students and their parents to convey their concerns and suggestions for improving the conduct of examinations and National Testing Agency (NTA) reforms, an overwhelming number of 37,000 public suggestions have been received.

Most of the 30,000 suggestions received by the panel came from students and candidates of various competitive exams. As per a TOI news report, the panel intend to meet with many students whose suggestions are under review and is expected to submit its recommendations by August 24.

Medical Dialogues previously reported that former ISRO chief R Radhakrishnan heading a seven-member panel was appointed by the government amid a raging row over the alleged NEET UG 2024 paper leak controversy and the cancellation of other exams. The panel announced to engage with parents and students to understand their concerns and challenges about the examination process.

Also read- Will Develop Robust System With Zero Error, Engage With Students To Understand Concerns: 'Panel Amid Raging Row Over NEET

The panel also includes former AIIMS Delhi director Randeep Guleria, Central University of Hyderabad Vice-Chancellor B J Rao, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Civil Engineering at IIT Madras K Ramamurthy, People Strong co-founder and Karmayogi Bharat board member Pankaj Bansal, IIT Delhi Dean of Student Affairs Aditya Mittal and Ministry of Education Joint Secretary Govind Jaiswal.

The panel was tasked to make recommendations on reforms in the mechanism of the examination process, improvement in data security protocols and the structure and functioning of the NTA. The committee was also tasked with examining the existing security protocols related to the setting of the papers and other processes for different examinations and making recommendations to enhance the robustness of the system. The reforms suggested by the panel will be implemented by the next exam cycle.

Their priority is to quickly build a robust system for starting the tests, a tamper-proof system, a system with zero error and a system that will lessen the difficulties and stress for the students with adequate flexibility built into it. 

As per TOI news report, the panel consulted Amey Karkare of IIT-Kanpur, an expert in programme analysis, compiler optimisations, software engineering, and machine learning with a focus on computer-aided education, and Debapriya Roy, an expert in hardware security, side-channel analysis, and applied cryptography, from the same institute.

They are making every move in exploring various exam options based on their different purposes to improve the conduct of the examinations and make sure to lessen the difficulties and stress for the students. Senior officials indicate that the committee has consulted various agencies with extensive experience in conducting exams, as well as officials from the NTA, NMC, UGC, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, and National Board of Examinations.

"the panel is examining all exam modes in terms of their different purposes and numbers, and determining the necessary checks and balances to address various challenges each exam faces. It is also analysing the NTA's exam processes from the beginning, including question setting, patterns, and logistics for transferring physical question papers. The panel is expected to make suggestions in these areas as well," said a TOI source.

NEET Controversy:

This year's NEET UG 2024 exam was mired in controversies after a paper leak scam came to light. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that around 13 people, including four examinees and their family members, were arrested in Bihar for their alleged involvement in the paper leak of the NEET-UG exam. Patna police sources had previously claimed that the NEET-UG question papers along with their answers were provided to around 20 aspirants a day before the date of the exam i.e. May 5, 2024.

Then, the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police, which took over the investigation, revealed that the brokers involved in the NEET paper leak scam took between Rs 30 lakh to Rs 50 lakh from each of the medical aspirants in exchange for giving them the question paper of the NEET UG 2024 question paper ahead of the examination.

Multiple pleas have been filed before the High Courts and the Supreme Court seeking an investigation into the alleged paper leak scam. Some of the pleas demanded the scrapping of the NEET UG 2024 exam and holding a retest.

Meanwhile, during the case proceedings, NTA earlier decided to withdraw the grace marks awarded to 1563 candidates and hold an optional retest for those candidates. Those who did not opt for the retest were allowed to retain their original marks, without the grace marks.

The matter is now being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Central Government on June 22, 2024, handed over the charge of investigating in the alleged irregularities in the NEET UG 2024 examination to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Earlier, while considering the NEET-related pleas, the Supreme Court had refused to defer the counselling/seat allotment process scheduled to commence on July 6. However, the bench had orally observed that the admissions would be subject to the final outcome of the petitions and if the exams were set aside, the counselling would get invalidated consequentially.

The Top Court had also expressed its concern over the alleged discrepancies in the NEET UG 2024 exam. The Court had noted that even '0.001& negligence' in conducting the NEET-UG 2024 exams would be looked into with all seriousness considering the immense labor put in by the candidates for the prestigious examination.