4-member panel to review NEET-UG results of 1,563 candidates | India News

NEW DELHI: The ministry of education has constituted a four-member panel headed by a former Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) chairperson to review the grace marks awarded to more than 1,563 candidates in the medical entrance exam National Eligibility Entrance Test-undergraduate (NEET-UG). This was informed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) announced on Saturday.
The medical/ dental entrance test results were announced on June 4, and thereafter aspirants have been alleging multiple issues, including irregularities in the exam demanding fresh examination. – Meanwhile, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the student wing affiliated to the RSS, on Saturday demanded a CBI inquiry into the allegations on the NEET-UG.
Many aspirants have also approached courts for relief on the matter. Meanwhile a political slugfest commenced between AAP and BJP on the exams which recorded over 24 lakh registration and 97% attendance. Earlier Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised the government on purported irregularities in the medical entrance examination demanding a thorough investigation.
According to NTA officials, the four-member panel is being mandated to submit its recommendations within a week and the results of these candidates might be revised accordingly.

The move comes amid allegations of inflation of marks leading to 67 candidates sharing first rank in the exam including six from the same centre in Haryana.
Demanding re-exam candidates are alleging that the grace marks awarded to make up for the loss of time at six exam centres have led to the inflation of marks and tampered with the chances of other candidates. These centres are from Meghalaya, Bahadurgarh in Haryana, Dantewada and Balodh in Chhattisgarh, Surat in Gujarat and Chandigarh.
“A high-powered committee has been set up to review the results of over 1,563 candidates. The four-member panel headed by a former UPSC chairman will submit its recommendations within a week and the results of these candidates might be revised,” said Subodh Kumar Singh, director general, NTA.
Singh added, “The awarding of grace marks has not impacted the qualifying criteria of the exam and the review of results of the affected candidates will not impact the admission process.”

The issue also took political turn with several opposition parties raising the issue. While AAP demanded a Supreme Court-monitored SIT probe into the alleged irregularities, Congress alleged paper leaks, rigging and corruption have become an integral part of many examinations and accused the BJP of cheating youngsters and playing with their futures. The Congress in Kerala alleged that results have raised concerns about the authenticity of the national exam for medical courses, with many students casting doubt on the procedure.
Responding to AAP’s allegations, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor questioned that “The people of Delhi want to know how minister Atishi took credit for the 100% results of Delhi’s six specialized excellence schools in the NEET exam, while today Jasmine Shah called the emergence of six toppers from a centre in Jhajjar, Haryana, a scam?”
The NTA however, denied any irregularities and said the changes made in the NCERT textbooks and grace marks for losing time at the examination centres were some of the reasons behind the students scoring higher marks.
On whether the exam will be re-conducted for certain students, Singh said: “It will be decided depending upon the committee’s recommendations. The idea is to ensure that students who lost time or other students are not at any disadvantage,” while denying any paper leak and irregularities in the exam and reiterated that the integrity of the crucial test had been compromised.
ABVP in a statement said that irregularities were reported on the very day of the examination from different parts of the country and solvers were caught at different places, and at some places irregularities were also found in the distribution of question papers etc. Vidyarthi Parishad stands with the legitimate demands of the NEET candidates. ABVP’s national general secretary Yagyavalkya Shukla said that there is suspicion of irregularities among the candidates regarding the NEET-UG exam results, this entire episode should be investigated by CBI and strict action should be taken against the culprits.