NEET-UG Controversy Deepens as Over 11,000 Candidates Score Zero or Negative Marks.
||Black and White Digital News||
||Parvinder Singh July 22,2024 ||
NEW DELHI : The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced the centre-wise results for the NEET-UG 2024, revealing a significant number of candidates scoring zero or negative marks. The results, which have drawn widespread attention due to allegations of irregularities, highlight a disconcerting trend in this year’s medical entrance examination.
According to the detailed analysis of the city- and centre-wise results released on Saturday, more than 11,000 candidates scored zero or negative marks. This includes over 2,250 candidates who scored zero marks and more than 9,400 candidates who received negative marks. The lowest score recorded in the exam is an astonishing -180, achieved by a candidate at a centre in Bihar.
A notable observation from the analysis is the presence of several candidates scoring less than zero marks at a centre in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, which is currently under scrutiny. Although multiple candidates from various centres scored zero marks, there are no significant clusters of such scores from any single centre, suggesting that the issue is widespread rather than localized.
An official from the NTA explained, “Zero marks in the exam do not necessarily imply that the answer sheets were blank or that no questions were attempted. It is possible that candidates attempted some questions correctly while others incorrectly, leading to a net negative score due to the marking scheme.”
The NEET-UG marking scheme awards four marks for each correct answer and deducts one mark for each incorrect answer, with no marks awarded or deducted for questions that are not attempted. This stringent marking system can result in negative scores if a candidate’s incorrect answers outweigh their correct ones.
The NTA’s release of city- and centre-wise results comes amidst ongoing investigations into alleged irregularities, including a potential paper leak. Despite the allegations, the data analysis indicates that the candidates who reportedly benefitted from these irregularities have not performed well overall. Interestingly, some centres have shown a high concentration of high-scoring candidates, raising further questions about the integrity of the exam process.
In Sikar, Rajasthan, more than 2,000 candidates scored above 650 marks, and over 4,000 candidates scored above 600 marks, highlighting a stark contrast to the numerous low or negative scores seen in other regions. This concentration of high scores in certain centres adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing investigation.
The NEET-UG exam, a critical gateway for aspiring medical students in India, has faced criticism and scrutiny in recent years. The latest results and the accompanying controversies only serve to underscore the need for a thorough and transparent investigation to ensure the integrity of the examination process and the future of countless medical aspirants.
As the NTA continues its investigation, stakeholders across the education sector are calling for stringent measures to prevent such irregularities in the future. The integrity of the NEET-UG exam is paramount to maintaining the trust of students, parents, and educational institutions nationwide.
