NTA Denies Alleged NEET Paper Leak; Calls Rumours “Baseless”
Following the alleged NEET paper leak from the undergraduate medical entrance exam, the National Testing Agency (NTA) released a press statement addressing the social media rumours and dismissing them as “completely baseless and without any ground.”
The press release states that the national-level competitive exam body successfully conducted the NEET (UG) 2024 across 4,750 centres and 571 cities, including 14 cities outside India, on May 5. “To put rumours to rest, it is also stated that every single question paper has been accounted for,” the NTA stated. The agency also clarified that once the gates of the exam centres are closed, no one from outside is allowed access to the halls, which are under the surveillance of CCTV.
Addressing Rajasthan’s Sawai Madhopur centre, where allegedly some students forcefully took the question papers before the exam was finished, the NTA described the picture of the paper being linked to an alleged paper leak as “mischievous” and “preposterous” and emphasised that no outsider could access the centres once the exams started.
The NTA clarified that all the other pictures of question papers circulating online are not to the actual question paper.
However, the exam body also acknowledged that there have been instances of malpractice and impersonation in the past where strict action was taken against the guilty.
Adding to that, the NTA stated that it also conducts data analysis after the exams to identify cases of Unfair Means (UFM) where action is taken based on existing rules, which include cancellations of candidature and debarring them from future exams.
Regarding NEET (UG)-2024: Posts circulating on Social Media pic.twitter.com/OqzwA7rVpF
— National Testing Agency (@NTA_Exams) May 6, 2024
Over 25 lakh students registered for NEET UG this year, recording the highest number. Over 10 lakh male students and 13 lakh female students registered for the competitive exam, thanks to choosing smaller cities as centres in the Northeast region, Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir, stated the NTA.
Concluding the statement, the exam body requested that parents, teachers, and concerned authorities not pay attention to such rumours and concentrate on forthcoming examinations.
Reportedly, the NTA has ordered a re-examination today as part of its proactive measures to uphold fairness and equal opportunity for all students. “The examination of approximately 120 affected candidates from the Girls Higher Secondary Model School examination centre is being conducted today, May 5, 2024, ensuring that their academic aspirations are not hindered by this incident,” the NTA said.
