NEET Row 2024: Major exams cancelled due to leaks, irregularities

The number of candidates who shared the top rank in NEET-UG dropped from 67 to 61 when the NTA declared the revised NEET UG results on July 1 after a retest was conducted for 1,563 candidates.

The NEET 2024 exam was held on May 5, 2024. (Representational Image/Getty Images)

New Delhi: In today’s hearing, July 8, the Supreme Court said that the NEET UG 2024 exam that was conducted on May 5, 2024, was compromised due to the leakage of the question papers. The bench, comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, stressed the need to clarify to what extent the NEET UG exam was compromised to decide whether a retest is necessary. The next hearing on the matter will be held on July 11, Thursday.

This is not the first time that the validity of an exam has been compromised by leaked documents and other factors. Here are some of the exams that have been cancelled and re-examined:

All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT)

The All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) was quashed in 2015 by the Supreme Court. A retest was conducted for a total of 600,000 candidates who appeared for the exam. The exam was quashed due to alleged cheating involving the use of high-tech gadgets. The Court felt that there could be many more people involved in the case and it would be unfair to those who did not cheat. The exam was re-conducted for 600,000 candidates.

UP Police Constable Recruitment Exam

Around 4.8 million candidates, including around 1.6 million women, appeared for the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment Exam 2024, which was conducted on February 17 and 18. The exam was conducted at 2,385 centres in four shifts spread across all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh to fill 60,244 posts in the state police. Due to allegations of leakage of documents, the exam was cancelled and is currently under investigation by a Special Task Force (STF). The exam has not been rescheduled yet.

UGC National Eligibility Test (UGC NET)

The UGC NET was cancelled a day after it was scheduled to be conducted when the education ministry received information that the integrity of the exam had been compromised. After further investigation, the ministry revealed that the paper had been leaked on the dark web. The matter is being investigated by the CBI. The exam will be conducted again from August 21 to September 4, 2024.

CSIR-UGC-NET Joint Project

The CSIR-UGC-NET joint examination is being conducted to determine eligibility for junior research fellowship and assistant professorship and for admission to PhD in science. The examination was postponed two days before the scheduled date due to logistical reasons. The examination will now be conducted from July 25 to 27.

NEET PG

The National Postgraduate Entrance Test (NEET-PG) was cancelled by the Health Ministry a night before the exam date. The ministry said the move was a “precautionary measure” in view of the ongoing paper leaks. The exam is now scheduled to be held on August 11 in two sessions.

Candidates are in a state of uncertainty due to the cancellation of the exam. This cancellation has also affected their months-long preparation. Frustration and disappointment are taking over as they worry about the effect of the cancellation on their academic journey and career prospects. Will this setback define their future or will they find a new path to success? This is a question that needs to be answered.