The agency has been under fire amid allegations of irregularities and inflated marks in the most important medical entrance exam NEET-UG 2024. (Image for representation: PTI)
NTA officials said that a total of 23 students found using unfair means in NEET-UG 2024 have been debarred from the exam for varying periods but the sanctity of the medical entrance exam has not been compromised and there has been no paper leak.
NTA officials said there were 63 cases of students using unfair means in NEET-UG 2024, of which 23 have been debarred from the exam for varying periods but the sanctity of the medical entrance exam has not been compromised and there has been no paper leak.
NTA Director General Subodh Kumar Singh said that the results of the remaining 40 candidates who used unfair means have been withheld. PTIHe said, “A committee of three eminent experts from the field of examination and education was constituted to look into various types of cases such as impersonation, cheating and tampering of OMR sheets.”
He said: “On the recommendations of the panel, 12 candidates were barred from appearing in the exam for three years, nine candidates for two years and two candidates for one year each. The result of the remaining candidates has been withheld. The panel had given recommendations for each case.”
Singh said the total number of cases of use of unfair means was 63.
The agency has been under fire amid allegations of irregularities and inflated marks in the crucial medical entrance exam. The matter also reached the apex court, which on Tuesday (June 12) said the sanctity of NEET-UG 2024 has been affected and sought response of the Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA) on another plea seeking holding of a fresh exam on the grounds of alleged question paper leak and other irregularities.
Amid criticism from protesting students and opposition parties, the Education Ministry had last week constituted a four-member panel to review the grace marks given to 1,563 students to compensate for the loss of time due to delay in starting of the examination at some centres.
“The panel is yet to submit its report. Based on the panel’s recommendations, either a re-examination will be conducted for around 1,600 students or some alternative arrangement will be made to ensure that no candidate suffers any loss,” he said.
When asked about allegations that 67 candidates were getting top ranks due to increase in marks, Singh said 67 candidates got 720 out of 720 marks, of which 44 candidates got marks due to correction in the answer key of Physics and six got marks due to loss of time.
“Only two candidates have got grace marks, who got 718 and 719 marks,” he said.
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(This story has not been edited by AyraNews24x7 staff and is published from syndicated news agency feeds.) PTI,
