NEET 2024 grace marks controversy: TN govt plans to move court against NTA, says Health Minister Subramanian

Chennai: Amid the controversy surrounding the NEET UG 2024 results, the Tamil Nadu government has planned to move court against the National Testing Agency (NTA) seeking an explanation for the alleged irregularities in the examination including the method of providing grace marks. 

Although the state government is considering moving court on the issue, Health Minister Ma Subramanian announced recently that the government intends to urge the NTA to disclose its assessment techniques, including the allocation of 'grace marks', to demonstrate the fairness of the process.

Despite the NTA releasing two clarifications on the high cut-off, multiple toppers, the issue of grace marks, and other issues, Subramanian stated that the agency has provided an unsatisfactory explanation of the controversy. Further, he blamed the NTA for the issue of grace marks. 

Also read- NEET 2024: Awarding Grace Marks Was 'Arbitrary', Plea In SC Demands Re-NEET, Recall Of Results

As per TOI news report, Subramanian said "Even students with 650 marks of 720 may not get into govt medical colleges this year. Academics say NTA's arbitrary decision to award grace marks has caused widespread irregularities. There were 67 students with 720/720. Since 2020, there have been just one or two students who have had a perfect score. Some students, who were awarded grace marks, have 719 and 718 marks -- a score that is otherwise impossible in NEET. We will discuss this issue with the chief minister and experts for further course of action."

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. NTA released the scorecard of NEET Ug 2024 on 04.06.2024.

NEET UG 2024 Results and Alleged Irregularities:

This year's NEET results shocked 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 questioning how some candidates secured 718 or 719 marks in the exam, which seems impossible considering the NEET marking scheme. According to 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, two pleas have been filed before the Supreme Court seeking a fresh NEET UG 2024 examination. In the latest plea before the SC, the candidates claimed that the grant of grace marks for the delay during the exam by the NTA was a mala fide exercise to give "backdoor entry" to certain students.

The candidates are also planning to seek a stay on the counselling. 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.

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

Also read- NTA Justifies NEET 2024 Conduct: Here Are 5 Takeaways From Press Conference