The Union Government decided to cancel the grace marks awarded to 1,563 candidates in the NEET-UG 2024 exam. This decision comes after allegations of unfair means during the examination. The affected students will have the opportunity to retake the exam on June 23, 2024. This announcement aims to ensure the fairness and integrity of the highly competitive medical entrance exam. The Supreme Court said that the counselling process should continue without interruption and if the exam continues everything will go as planned so there is no need to worry.
Decision to Cancel Grace Marks
The Centre informed the Supreme Court about its decision to cancel the scorecards of 1,563 NEET-UG 2024 candidates who were given grace marks. This move was made in response to claims of malpractice during the exam. The Union’s statement clarified that the scorecards of these students would be invalidated, and they would be given a chance to take a re-examination.
Investigation and Committee Findings
To address the issue, a committee was formed, which met on June 10, 11, and 12 to investigate the allegations. Based on the committee’s recommendations, the Centre decided to cancel the grace marks. The Union’s statement highlighted, “A committee meeting was held on June 10, 11, and 12 to investigate the allegations. Based on the committee’s recommendations, the scorecards of the affected candidates will be cancelled, and a re-examination will be held for these students.”
Supreme Court’s Response
Despite the controversy, the Supreme Court confirmed that the counselling process for NEET-UG 2024 will proceed as scheduled. The court stated, “Counselling will proceed as scheduled and there will be no interruption. If the exam continues, everything else will proceed as well, so there is no cause for concern.” This means that while the re-exam will be conducted, the overall schedule for admissions will not be affected.
Re-Exam Details and Results Announcement
The re-exam for the 1,563 candidates will be held on June 23, 2024, and the results are expected to be declared on June 30, 2024. The Centre assured the Supreme Court that the re-exam would be conducted promptly and that all necessary arrangements were in place. Following the announcement of the re-exam results, counselling for admission to MBBS, BDS, and other medical courses will start on July 6, 2024.
NEET UG Re-Exam Date 2024: 23th June 2024
NEET UG Re-Exam Result Date: 30th June 2024
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
The Supreme Court has also issued notices to the Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA) over a petition seeking to cancel the NEET-UG 2024 results amid allegations of paper leaks and discrepancies in scores. The court will hear all petitions related to these issues on July 8, 2024. The petitioners, primarily from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, have raised concerns about the logic behind the grace marks and the overall integrity of the exam process.
Implications of Cheating in Medical Exams
The petitioners emphasized the severe implications of cheating in medical entrance exams. They argued, “This field requires a deep understanding of scientific and medical knowledge… cheating or using unfair means to pass an exam can lead to a lack of competence and endanger lives of patients.” They also pointed out the broader societal impact, stating, “It perpetuates 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 and the same also impacts the society as a whole.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Centre’s decision to cancel the grace marks for 1,563 NEET-UG 2024 candidates and offer a reexam underscores the commitment to maintaining the integrity of the examination process. The Supreme Court’s assurance that the counselling process will continue as scheduled provides clarity and reassurance to all candidates. As the legal proceedings continue, the focus remains on ensuring a fair and transparent process for all students aspiring to join the medical field.
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