New Delhi: The Centre informed the Supreme Court that there was no indication of "mass malpractice" or a localised set of candidates benefitting with abnormal scores in NEET-UG 2024, as reported by PTI. The Centre stated that IIT Madras conducted data analytics on the NEET-UG 2024 results. According to the experts' findings, the marks distribution followed a bell-shaped curve, typical of any large-scale examination, indicating no irregularities.
In an additional affidavit filed with the apex court, the Centre mentioned that for the 2024-25 academic year, the counselling process for undergraduate seats will begin in the third week of July and will be conducted in four rounds.
Additionally, the National Testing Agency (NTA), which administers the prestigious exam, submitted a separate affidavit to the top court. The NTA confirmed that it conducted an analysis of the marks distribution in NEET-UG 2024 at the national, state, city, and centre levels.
"This analysis indicates that the distribution of marks is quite normal and there seems to be no extraneous factor, which would influence the distribution of marks," the NTA said in its affidavit, which also gave details about the system in place for ensuring confidential printing of question papers, its transportation and distribution.
In its additional affidavit filed on Wednesday, the Centre said pursuant to the apex court's direction, the Ministry of Education had made a request to the Director of IIT Madras to undertake comprehensive data analytics of the result of candidates who appeared in NEET-UG 2024.
"It is submitted that pursuant to it an exhaustive and elaborate technical evaluation of the data pertaining to the NEET-UG 2024 examination was carried out by IIT Madras, using the parameters like marks distribution, city-wise and centre-wise rank distribution and candidates spread over marks-range, and the experts of the IIT Madras have given the following findings…," it said.
The affidavit stated that according to findings by IIT Madras, the marks distribution follows the bell-shaped curve typical of any large-scale examination, indicating no abnormalities. "The analysis shows no indication of mass malpractice or a localised set of candidates benefitting with abnormal scores," it said, quoting the IIT Madras experts.
The affidavit further noted that there is an overall increase in marks obtained by students, particularly in the range of 550 to 720. "This increase is seen across cities and centers and is attributed to a 25 percent reduction in the syllabus. Additionally, candidates obtaining such high marks are spread across multiple cities and centers, indicating a very low likelihood of malpractice," it said.
Regarding counselling, the Centre stated that for the 2024-25 academic year, the counselling process will be conducted in four rounds starting from the third week of July. "For any candidate found to be the beneficiary of malpractice, their candidature will be cancelled at any stage during or even after the counselling process," it added.
The Centre also mentioned that steps are being taken to ensure the exam process is more robust and resistant to malpractice. A high-level committee of experts has been established to recommend effective measures for conducting transparent, smooth, and fair examinations by the NTA.
A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud is scheduled to hear a batch of pleas on Thursday related to the controversy-ridden NEET-UG 2024, including allegations of irregularities and malpractice in the May 5 test and calls for it to be conducted afresh.
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