NEW DELHI : Asserting that there were no serious irregularities in the NEET -UG 2024 exam, the Centre in a submission to the Supreme Court has stated that it does not plan to scrap the examination or hold a retest.
In an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, which is scheduled to hear petitions on the issue on Monday (8 July), the Centre argued that cancelling the 2024 exam in its entirety would “jeopardise” the future of several deserving candidates who appeared in the exam which saw the participation of nearly 24 lakh students.
The affidavit stated that in the absence of proof of any large-scale breach of confidentiality in the examination, it would not be rational to take such an extreme step. Highlighting that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been tasked with thoroughly investigating the allegations, the government reiterated its commitment to conducting all exams in a fair and transparent manner.
As per media reports, the affidavit reads, “The Union of India duly appreciates that the confidentiality of the question papers is the utmost priority in any examination and that if due to some criminality at the behest of some criminal elements, the confidentiality has been breached, the Union of India submits that the said person must be dealt sternly and with the full force of law to ensure that they are punished.
The Education Ministry, in its affidavit, acknowledged “instances of irregularities, cheating, impersonation, and malpractices” during the conduct of NEET-UG. However, it made no mention of a paper leak.