The counseling for NEET-UG has been put on hold until further notice despite NTA announcing that it would commence on the 6th of July, 2024. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), the governing body of the NEET-UG Counselling, has not issued a formal notification or a timetable as of 2024.
This delay comes after a series of stain-over examinations conducted by the NTA for admissions in MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other such courses. Various irregularities that took place, such as question paper leakages and impersonation during the May 5 test, have raised various controversies, student strikes, and political concerns.
Originally, the results were to be declared on June 14th, but due to the early completion of the process of evaluating answer sheets, they were declared a week earlier on June 4th. About 67 students got a total of 720 marks, which is the highest ever. Out of these, 6 students belong to a center in Haryana Faridabad, so there is a possibility of cheating. Also, 1,563 candidates who were accused of having grace marks were told to be subjected to a re-test, of which 750 declined.
CBI has been assigned with the responsibility of investigating in connection with the alleged paper leak where six accused persons, including the main accused Aman Singh, have been arrested.
Earlier this year, the Union government submitted an affidavit to the apex court saying that it would be opposed to holding NEET-UG once again in 2024, arguing that the re-testing would adversely affect the academic calendar year and there is no sufficient material to vindicate the large-scale cheating allegations.
Further supporting this stand, the NTA also filed an affidavit stating that cancellation of examination is harmful to the futures of deserving candidates although it has not hidden from admitting to cases of malpractice in a few students, which have been dealt with iron hands.
These events show that NEET-UG is surrounded by issues and challenges; therefore, it calls for national entrance tests and exams to be honest and free from bias.
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