Short Edit: NEET-UG Case Shows How NCERT Is Scripting The End Of India’s Borrowed Books Culture

It is a common practice in Indian households to use school books, uniforms and even school bags passed on by an elder sibling

Source : PTI

Opinion: "Never discard your books! Give it to someone in need." We all have been taught this at some point by either our parents or teachers. But frequent NCERT changes and revisions have made this practice not only redundant but also lethal for students using books passed on by elder siblings, cousins or acquaintances. On July 22, while hearing petitions challenging the NEET-UG results of 2024, the Supreme Court stumbled upon the practical problem that arises from changing syllabus and altering books frequently.

The conflict came to light after the National Testing Agency (NTA) in its initial answer key gave the new NCERT answer as the correct answer. However, the same question carried an option that was correct according to the old NCERT version. Following objections by students on ambiguity in that particular question because of "two correct answers", the NTA said both options should be treated as correct answers. 

All the students who chose any one of the two options were granted full 4 marks. But one student skipped the question fearing negative marking, and lost these 4 marks. This student later challenged this in the top court, contending how the anomaly put her at a disadvantage.

The top court on Monday asked NTA why it went against its own rules when it should have treated the new NCERT answer as the correct answer. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Centre, told the court in reply that this was done after the NTA received representation from students belonging to poor families, who were using old NCERT versions passed on to them by elder siblings.

The Supreme Court has now directed IIT-Delhi to constitute an expert committee with three members to find out the correct answer to the "ambiguous question" in NEET-UG exam which had two correct options — one based on the new NCERT and another based on the old NCERT version.

How Frequent Changes To NCERT Syllabus Harm Poor Students    

This latest development in the controversy surrounding NEET-UG results has unearthed yet another disadvantage faced by students belonging to the middle class and poor sections of society. It is a common practice in Indian households to use school books, uniforms and even school bags passed on by an elder sibling, cousins, neighbours or friends. What has become more common is the change of NCERT syllabus by governments.

Just sometime back, the changes made to social studies and history books made headlines. While politicians fought over ideologies, not many thought about the impact on the practice of borrowing and donating books.

Books are treated as sacred in most Indian households and discarding them is the last resort, which is often looked down upon by everyone. Notably, in the NEET-UG exam this year, more than 4 lakh students marked the particular answer as correct, based on the old NCERT version.

Now, if the Supreme Court decides to change NTA's decision to treat both options as correct, all these students will lose 4 marks, which can drastically change ranks in the competitive exam conducted for entrance to MBBS courses.

Many crucial entrance exams including UPSC, CDS and other government exams ask questions from NCERT books. One can only imagine the disadvantages faced by underprivileged students who prepare from older versions of books.

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