A recent incident at a National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) exam centre in Rajasthan has sparked controversy after candidates were erroneously given question papers in languages not of their choice, prompting some to walk out with the papers.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) addressed the issue, asserting that despite the mishap, the integrity of the examination process remained uncompromised.
Sadhna Parashar, Senior Director at NTA, confirmed that during the NEET-UG examination at the Girls Higher Secondary Model School in Sawai Madhopur, an incorrect distribution of question papers occurred due to an error by the centre superintendent. This resulted in a few candidates leaving the exam centre with the question papers they were given.
To rectify the situation and uphold fairness, the NTA promptly re-conducted the exam for approximately 120 affected candidates at the centre to ensure their academic aspirations were not jeopardized by the incident.
Responding to allegations circulating on social media regarding a question paper leak, the NTA categorically denied any possibility of such a breach, reaffirming its commitment to maintaining the integrity and security of the examination process.
This year's NEET-UG witnessed a record registration of 23 lakh candidates, with over 10 lakh male students, more than 13 lakh female students, and 24 students registered under the third gender category. Uttar Pradesh led in registrations with 3,39,125 candidates, followed by Maharashtra with 2,79,904 and Rajasthan with 1,96,139 registrations. Tamil Nadu and Karnataka also recorded significant numbers with 1,55,216 and 1,54,210 registrations respectively.
Comparatively, in 2023, a total of 20,87,449 candidates had registered for NEET-UG, and the exam was conducted on May 7 of that year. The NTA reported an impressive 97.7% attendance rate for the exam, underscoring the widespread participation and significance of NEET-UG as a crucial entrance examination for medical aspirants across the country.
Despite the isolated incident at the Rajasthan exam centre, the NEET-UG examination remains a pivotal milestone for aspiring medical students, with the NTA's proactive measures ensuring that all candidates receive fair and equitable opportunities to demonstrate their academic capabilities in pursuit of their professional aspirations. Moving forward, the NTA continues to uphold stringent measures to safeguard the sanctity and credibility of the NEET examination, emphasizing the importance of a transparent and reliable evaluation process for all stakeholders involved.