Controversial Grace Marks Cancelled for NEET UG 2024, Re-test Option for 1563 Students

Union Government has canceled the grace marks awarded to 1,563 NEET-UG 2024 candidates due to allegations of unfair means during the examination. The affected students will retake the exam on June 23, 2024. This move aims to ensure the integrity and fairness of the highly competitive medical entrance exam. The Supreme Court has directed that the counselling process should continue without interruption, assuring that everything will proceed as planned, and there is no need for students to worry. The decision demonstrates the commitment to maintaining the credibility of the examination process.

Decision to Cancel Grace Marks Centre has informed the Supreme Court of its decision to invalidate the scorecards of 1,563 NEET-UG 2024 candidates who were previously awarded grace marks. This move comes in response to allegations of malpractice during the examination. The Union's statement emphasized that the scorecards of these students will be nullified, and they will be given a fresh opportunity to take the examination.

Investigation and Committee Findings To address the allegations of malpractice during the NEET-UG 2024 examination, a special committee was convened on June 10, 11, and 12. Following the committee's thorough investigation and recommendations, the Centre has decided to cancel the grace marks awarded to 1,563 candidates. The Union's official statement emphasized that the scorecards of these students will be invalidated, and they will be given a fresh opportunity to take the examination.

Supreme Court’s Response

Despite the ongoing controversy surrounding the NEET-UG 2024 examination, the Supreme Court has reaffirmed that the counselling process will proceed without interruption. The court emphasized that the scheduled timeline for counselling will be maintained, and there will be no delay. The court's statement assured that if the re-examination is conducted, the entire admission process will continue as planned, thereby alleviating any concerns among students.

Retest Details and Results Announcement

The Centre has announced that the retest for 1,563 NEET UG 2024 candidates who were awarded grace marks will be held on June 23, 2024. The results are expected to be declared on June 30, 2024. The Centre assured the Supreme Court that all necessary arrangements are in place for the retest and that it will be conducted promptly. Following the announcement of the retest results, counselling for admission to MBBS, BDS, and other medical courses will start on July 6, 2024.

Ongoing Legal Proceedings

Supreme Court has issued notices to the Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA) in response to a petition seeking to cancel the NEET-UG 2024 results due to allegations of paper leaks and discrepancies in scores. The court has scheduled a hearing for all related petitions on July 8, 2024. The petitioners, primarily from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, have expressed concerns about the logic behind the grace marks and the overall integrity of the exam process, seeking a thorough investigation and potential cancellation of the results. Implications of Cheating in Medical Exams

Petitioners stressed the far-reaching consequences of cheating in medical entrance exams, emphasizing that such actions can have devastating effects on patient care. They argued that medical professionals must possess a profound understanding of scientific and medical knowledge, and that cheating or using unfair means to pass an exam can lead to a lack of competence, putting patients' lives at risk. Additionally, the petitioners highlighted the broader societal implications, stating that such practices perpetuate inequalities by favoring those who can afford to pay for leaked exam papers or engage in fraudulent activities, while disadvantaging those who rely on their hard work and merit to succeed.