The National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) 2024, India’s highly competitive medical entrance exam, has been rocked by controversies.
Allegations of NEET 2024 question paper leaks, cheating in NEET 2024, and student protests have cast a dark cloud over the NEET exam integrity, causing significant distress and uncertainty among the student community, who are the most affected by these issues.
At the center of the NEET 2024 controversy are reports of a paper leak in Bihar, a state with a history of such incidents. Authorities there arrested 13 individuals, including students and their families, for allegedly providing answers to 35 aspirants before the exam. Initially, the National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for conducting NEET, dismissed these claims as unfounded.
Adding to the confusion was a separate incident at a Rajasthan exam center. Some students received the wrong question paper. These students, understandably concerned, left the exam hall with the incorrect paper, raising concerns that the paper might have been leaked. The NTA, however, maintained that the exam continued at other centers and conducted a re-exam for the affected students.
Social media played a significant role in amplifying the controversy. Days before the exam, a video of a masked man claiming a ‘mastermind’ might leak the paper went viral, causing widespread anxiety among students and prompting calls for an investigation into the possibility of a leak. This incident underscores the power of digital platforms in shaping public discourse.
Beyond the alleged paper leak, there have been reports of cheating attempts. Three individuals in Gujarat, including a teacher on exam duty, were accused of aiding aspirants by offering to solve the paper for a hefty sum of Rs.10 lakh each. Similarly, the Odisha Police arrested three people for cheating at an exam center.
These incidents raise serious concerns about the security and fairness of NEET 2024. The ongoing investigations and arrests highlight the urgent need for stricter measures to prevent cheating and leaks. It’s crucial that medical aspirants are assured of a transparent and meritocratic selection process, ensuring that only the most deserving candidates secure seats in medical colleges.
What are your views on the situation? Do you think that the credibility of prestigious government exams is at risk?