The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is a critical examination that paves the way for countless students in India to pursue their dreams of studying medicine. However, the NEET 2024 examination has stirred up a storm of controversy, casting a shadow of uncertainty over the future of many aspiring medical students.
A significant part of the controversy involves an incident in Haryana, where a 25-minute confusion related to the distribution of question papers resulted in chaos at two examination centers. This issue occurred due to the issuance of two different sets of question papers, one stored with the State Bank of India (SBI) and another with Canara Bank. According to Jaivikash Nandal, a coaching institute member, both sets were distributed at these centers, leading to confusion. After 25 minutes, the SBI set was withdrawn, leaving the centers with a more challenging Canara Bank set.
Aside from this, several other discrepancies in the examination process have been reported, including alleged paper leaks and the awarding of grace marks to some students. One such student affected by these irregularities is Komal Rani from Jhajjar, Haryana. Despite scoring an impressive 641 out of 720, Komal now stands at a disadvantage due to these issues, causing her to question the fairness of the examination.
These controversies have not only affected the students but have also sparked nationwide protests and attracted criticism from Opposition leaders. The DMK has slammed the National Testing Agency for destroying the exam’s sanctity and accused the Centre of merely being a “spectator” and backing coaching centers. The Congress party has echoed these sentiments and demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe, questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the matter.
As the controversy continues to unfold, it is clear that the sanctity of the NEET examination has been deeply impacted, affecting the lives of over 24 lakh students and their families. Opposition leaders, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, have criticised the “scam in NEET” and highlighted the need for a fair and transparent examination process.
Despite the opposition’s criticism, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has stated that there is no evidence of a paper leak and claims of corruption in the National Testing Agency (NTA) are unfounded. However, this has done little to alleviate the distress and uncertainty felt by students.
As the country awaits the Supreme Court’s hearing on the matter, the demand for justice and a fair examination system continues to grow. The NEET 2024 controversy serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining trust and integrity in educational examinations, which are, after all, the stepping stones to a student’s future.