NTA justifies NEET 2024 conduct: Here are 5 takeaways from Press Conference

New Delhi: Amid the protests and uproar by students concerning the NEET UG 2024 results, the National Testing Agency under the Union Ministry of Education today held a Press Conference to address the issues and grievances raised by the aspirants.

During the meeting, the DG of the National Testing Agency Subodh Singh informed 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.

A former UPSC Chairperson will chair this four-member panel and this committee will examine the potential discrepancies in the undergraduate medical entrance examination.

Here are the 5 takeaways from the Press Conference:

1. NTA informed that a panel headed by a former UPSC Chairman will examine the issue and submit its recommendations within a week.

2. The issue concerns only 1600 students in 6 centres. This panel will look into the issue of compensatory marks awarded by the grievance redressal committee.

3. After conducting a proper examination, the panel will decide on whether to revise their results or whether retest will be conducted for these candidates. However, the NTA mentioned that it would ensure that no students would be negatively affected. 

4. NTA insisted that awarding grace marks did not impact the qualifying criteria of the exam. It also assured that reviewing the results of the affected candidates will not impact the admission process.

5. Overal admission process will not get delayed, NTA has assured.

NTA also justified the early release of the results, previously scheduled to be released on 14th June 2024 and released on 4th June 2024 instead. The agency further refuted the claims of a potential paper leaks. 

Will NEET 2024 exam be re-conducted?

Currently, it is not likely that the exam will be re-conducted. However, the NTA director stated that the four-member committee is looking into the matter of around 1600 candidates from 6 exam centres and further steps- including the re-conduct of the NEET 2024- will depend on the recommendations given by the committee. 

During the press conference, the NTA Director stated, "If the committee feels there should be a re-examination, we will organize it."

Will there be result re-declaration?

The Re-result will be based on the committee recommendations as well. The NTA director alluded that the re-result might be for the concerned 1600 candidates only. 

The NTA Director has assured that re-releasing the results for the 1,600 students under review will not impact the admissions process. 

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that NEET UG 2024 results shocked many as 67 candidates got the All India Rank 1 in the examination. Concerns were raised about other issues such as students securing 718 or 719 marks (which seems impossible because of the marking scheme), and several students from the same centre securing 720 marks in the exam.

Clarifying on the issue, the NTA then said that 1,563 students received grace marks.

Students have been protesting against the NEET results and were recently seen rallying in Kanpur.

Meanwhile, doctors and medical associations have also written to NTA demanding clarification and CBI inquiry into the matter.

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