NEET Exam 2024: Controversies, Problems, and Solutions

Main Points

• Controversies in NEET 2024 Exam:

  • The NEET exam was conducted on May 5, with 2.4 million students participating.
  • The results were released on June 4, revealing several discrepancies.
  • Approximately 1500 students were given grace marks, and 67 students topped.
  • Many toppers appeared from the same exam center.

• Government's Response:

  • On June 13, the Education Minister stated in the Supreme Court that there is no evidence of a paper leak in the NEET UG exam.
  • On June 18, several petitions were filed in the Supreme Court demanding the cancellation of the exam.
  • On June 20, Bihar Police arrested Anurag Yadav in connection with the paper leak case.

• Status of Other Exams:

  • On June 19, the Union Education Ministry canceled the UGC NET exam.
  • On June 21, the CSIR UGC NET exam was also canceled.
  • On June 22, the NEET PG exam was also postponed.

Exam Discrepancies

• Godhra Case:

  • Cheating was reported at the Jai Jalaram School exam center in Panchmahal district.
  • During the exam, students were asked to fill in answers, with the remainder being filled by their teachers.
  • Five people were arrested in this case.

• Patna Case:

  • A NEET paper leak was also reported in Patna, leading to several arrests.
  • Students and families paid between 2.5 to 3 million rupees to get the question paper leaked.
  • Sanjeev Singh was the kingpin of this entire scam.

NTA and Their Responsibility

• NTA is responsible for multiple exams but has limited resources.
• NTA often outsources many tasks, increasing the risk of paper leaks.
• Paper-based exams have more phases, increasing the chances of intervention.

Solutions

• Resource and Technical Improvements:

  • NTA needs more resources and full-time staff.
  • Online exams should be promoted.
  • CCTV cameras and other security measures should be implemented in every exam room.

• Modern Security Measures:

  • Adopt technological security measures from countries like China, such as AI and ML-powered security cameras.
  • Use jamming devices and satellite navigation.

• Rigorous Transparency and Accountability:

  • NTA should bring more transparency and accountability in its functioning and operations.
  • Strict penalties and fines should be provisioned for exam misconduct.

Case Studies and Human Instructions

• Hanu Sharma's Case:
  • 19-year-old Hanu Sharma was the first in his family to go to college, but the system failed him.
• Paranjay's Example:
  • After several exams, his results were invalidated.

Conclusion

• Considering the future and mental health of millions of students, transparency and fairness in exams should be ensured.
• The higher education system needs reforms to maintain students' trust.