NEET PG 2024: Hundreds of Candidates Score Same Percentile, NBE's Transparency Questioned

New Delhi: Controversy is still following the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET-PG) 2024 examination as candidates have pointed out that hundreds of candidates scored the same percentile in the exam held on August 11, 2024.

Since the publication of the NEET PG 2024 results, candidates highlighted the discrepancies in the results as many claimed that they scored shockingly less than their expectations.

These allegations, coupled with the National Board of Examinations' policy of not releasing the answer key for the postgraduate medical entrance test have posed a question regarding the transparency of the exam altogether.

After several controversies, the NEET PG 2024 examination was finally conducted on August 11, 2024, in two shifts i.e. from 9 am to 12:30 pm and 3:30 pm for admission to MD, MS, DNB, and Diploma Courses of 2024-25 admission session. Consequently, the PG medical entrance exam results were published on August 24, 2024.

However, the exam results started a new controversy as the candidates who appeared in the second shift started questioning the normalisation of scores policy adopted by NBE.

Raising their doubts regarding the fairness of the NEET PG 2024 exam and also about the normalisation of scores policy adopted by the NBE, several candidates have urged the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) to issue the answer key to the PG medical entrance test and disclose the details of the normalisation policy adopted by the authorities.

Also Read: NEET PG 2024 results spark controversy, Candidates allege discrepancy in Normalisation Formula, Demand Release of Answer Key

Same Percentile Score for Hundreds of Candidates: 

Taking to X (formerly Twitter) many candidates pointed out that several NEET PG 2024 candidates obtained the same percentile score in the exam. Questioning how it was possible, a candidate wrote, "What Kind of Normalization and Rank allotment is this ? Where Hundreds and thousands of people can get same percentile even after taking seven decimals.."

Sharing a screenshot of the percentiles and the number of candidates who secured the marks, an X user questioned, "How can percentiles be same for so many candidates? Here is the list of no of candidates with same percentiles. What’s going on?" 

As per the post, altogether 132 candidates secured 94.9756783 percentile, 92 candidates secured 94.9193675, 99 candidates received 94.7526376 percentile, 101 candidates received 94.8536076 percentile, 99 candidates received 94.7526376 etc.

Doubts regarding the Normalisation Formula: 

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that NEET PG 2024 candidates were expressing their doubts and concerns regarding the normalisation formula adopted by NBE for the two shifts of the examination.

Previously, a case was also filed before the Supreme Court seeking directions upon NBE to make the normalisation formula public.

Referring to the need for making the normalisation formula public, an X user wrote, "In high-stakes exams like NEET PG with multiple sets and normalization, transparency is crucial. NBE should release the answer keys, make the normalization process public, and display the raw scores of each student. This would ensure fairness and build trust in the system."

"NBEMS Mental Harassment on NEET PG 2024 Aspirants, First with 3 Times Postponement & Preponement issue,Center relocation issue then with Double shift & Normalisation issue Now with Unexpected NEET PG Results. Doctors Demand for NEET PG Answer key," wrote Sanjay Rajkumar, State Secretary of NSUI Karnataka.

Why Answer Keys cannot be released? 

Amidst these doubts and concerns regarding the NEET-PG 2024 results, NBE's policy of not releasing the answer key has also been challenged. Addressing the issue, one X user wrote, "Dear @MoHFW_INDIA, Why can’t (a) Question Paper (b) Answer keys, and (c) attempted recorded responses of the candidates to the questions of #NEETPG2024 be displayed on the NBE's website if the same can be done by NTA in respect of UGC-NET conducted in CBT mode?"

"Why are the answer-keys of #neetpg2024 exams not released? The exam is online, scoring is online, so why not keep it transparent and share the answers and the normalization applied? Anyone can conduct an exam and give scores/ranking without sharing the correct answers," wrote another user.

Demands for Re-conduction of NEET PG 2024: 

Meanwhile, blaming NBE for failing to show any transparency in conducting the NEET-PG 2024 examination, demands are being raised before the Union Health Minister and the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Shri J P Nadda for reconducting the PG medical entrance test examination.

 "Requesting @MoHFW_INDIA Mr. @JPNadda ji, please cancel the #NEETPGResults and reconduct #NEETPG2024 in one shift. The #NBEMS hasn't shown any transparency in #NEETPG, they failed to declared results, with it's scores and ranks. We #Doctors & #MedicalStudents want justice," an user wrote in an X post.

Previous Plea before Supreme Court: 

This is not the first time that the doctors are demanding the release of NEET PG answer keys. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that back in 2022, the doctors had filed pleas before the Supreme Court alleging serious discrepancies in the NEET-PG 2022 exam. In the plea, the MBBS graduates challenged the decision of the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBE) of not releasing the answer keys and question paper for the exam.

The doctors had also requested the court to set up a High Power Committee to examine the instances of alleged discrepancies in the scores so that fairness and transparency in the evaluation mechanism could be ensured. Apart from this, the plea further requested the court to frame guidelines for publishing question papers and answer keys after the examination.

However, earlier in June 2024, the Apex Court bench dismissed the plea after taking note of the passage of time since the conduction of the NEET PG 2022 examination.

Also Read: NEET PG 2024 2nd Shift Candidates Allege Normalisation formula 'scam'