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Cancelled dreams: NET & NEET storm and the new law

April 3, 2025, 2:01 am

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is an independent organization created by the Government of India to administer admission and eligibility examinations for higher education institutions. The main goal is to provide equitable, transparent, and uniform testing procedures nationwide. Since its establishment, the NTA has been tasked with overseeing a range of important examinations, such as the NET and NEET (UG), CUET, GPAT, CMAT that have significant impacts on academic and professional sphere in India. Establishment of this agency was aimed to ensure the integrity and dependability of these tests by establishing strong security measures, employing cutting-edge technology, and adhering to stringent standards. Nevertheless, recent disputes, such as the purported leakage of the NEET paper and the abrupt termination of the NET exam, have prompted doubts regarding its effectiveness and highlighted the necessity for ongoing enhancements and increased responsibility to fulfil the expectations of candidates and stakeholders.
The National Eligibility Test (NET) in India is a vital test for those seeking to pursue careers in academia and research. It is administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The NET test acts as a means for applicants to qualify for the position of Assistant Professor and get Junior Research Fellowships (JRF) at Indian institutions and colleges. The exam is conducted biannually and evaluates applicants’ expertise in many fields and their ability to do research.
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET)- UG is the primary entrance test for candidates who wish to enter undergraduate medical and dentistry degrees (MBBS/BDS) in India. Administered on a yearly basis by the NTA, NEET guarantees a standardized and competence-driven procedure for accepting students into medical institutions throughout the nation.

The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET-UG (medical entrance examination) was administered by the NTA on May 5 and the results were announced on June 4. The exam, which is currently making headlines due to allegations of question paper leakage and irregularities, attracted approximately 24 lakh students. Unprecedented in the history of NTA, a total of 67 candidates achieved All-India Rank 1. Reports of paper breaches and the distribution of grace marks have raised concerns about the integrity of the exam since that time.
The NTA also conducted University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) exam on June 18 but it was cancelled by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, on June 19, one day after it was administered, in order to guarantee the utmost transparency and integrity of the examination process. The report which came the very next day from a preliminary investigation said that the question paper was leaked 48 hours prior to the exam. The paper was sold for Rs 6 lakh on the dark web and encrypted social media platforms, according to the report. The National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre under the Ministry of Home Affairs provided the University Grants Commission (UGC) with specific inputs regarding the examination on June 19, 2024. Prima facie, these inputs suggest that the integrity of the aforementioned examination may have been compromised. The protest that happened after the notice by NTA to cancel the exam was out, was attended by a significant number of students, including members of political organizations such as the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), All India Students Association (AISA), Democratic Students’ Front (DSF), Krantikari Yuva Sangathan (KYS), and Congress-affiliated NSUI. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), which is affiliated with the RSS, also organized protests on the north campus of Delhi University and the Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Thousands of applicants are in shock at the unexpected cancellation of the NET test, which has left candidates who spent months, preparing rigorously feeling severely emotionally and psychologically damaged. The sudden cancelation of the exam, together with the build-up to it, have left me feeling quite frustrated and let down. Furthermore, a large number of applicants had to bear a heavy financial load by paying for lodging, transportation, and other associated fees just to have their efforts in vain. Outside of the financial ramifications, the time and energy spent getting ready for the test are priceless. Many times, juggling other obligations, candidates carefully plan only to have their dreams dashed. The widespread anguish highlights how deeply these administrative mistakes affect the lives of conscientious professionals and students. Students now expect a similar response for the NEET test due to the precedent the cancellation of the NET exam has set. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan accepted full responsibility for it. He also announced the creation of a high-level committee to improve the National Testing Agency’s (NTA) operations, examination procedures, transparency, and data security measures. In February, President Droupadi Murmu signed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill into law. The bill was adopted by the Centre with the goal of preventing leaks, malpractices, and organized cheating in recruitment exams such as UPSC and SSC, as well as admission tests such as NEET, JEE, CUET, and NET.

The Punishments under Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 proposes that unfair means be punishable by imprisonment for three to five years with a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh.
In case a person, group or persons commits an organised crime of this nature which includes the examination authority, service providers or any other institutions, they will be punished with imprisonment of five to 10 years with a minimum fine of Rs 1 crore.
The law empowers agencies to attach and forfeit the properties of institutions involved in committing organised crime for the proportionate recovery of the cost of examination.

The law also states that an officer of the rank of deputy superintendent of police or assistant commissioner of police will be responsible for investigating any complaints under the Act. Despite the fact that the recently enforced Act cannot be applied retrospectively to the accused of NET & NEET-UG paper leak, this law is a hope to establish a more effective approach to address similar instances in future. It emphasizes how important it is to preserve test fairness and integrity. It is crucial to provide top priority to secure and transparent testing procedures in order to guarantee an impartial evaluation process for every applicant.

JEE Main 2025 Session 1 Results Out: 14 Candidates Score 100 NTA Marks-Direct Link to Check Result

February 11, 2025, 6:46 pm

The National Testing Agency (NTA) officially released the Joint Entrance Examination Main 2025 Session 1 result. One can now download his or her scores from the official website – jeemain.nta.nic.in. Yet, some students received a ‘500 Internal Server Error’ at the time of trying to reach the result link.

Sai Manogna Guthikonda Only Female Winner

Sai Manogna Guthikonda from Andhra Pradesh is the only female topper, among the 14 toppers this year.

With the highest number of top scorers, Rajasthan continues to dominate the list. Notably, NTA disqualified 39 candidates for engaging in unfair practices, and their percentiles have not been declared.

JEE Main 2025: Registration Statistics

A total of 13,11,544 candidates registered for Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech.), including:

Gender	Number of Candidates
Female	4,43,622
Male	8,67,920
Third-gender	2

Category-wise registration trend:

Category	Number of Candidates
OBC	5,07,683
General	4,89,210
EWS	1,41,786
SC	1,30,254
ST	42,611

JEE Main 2025 Toppers List

There are 14 students on this list:

Rank	Name	State
1	Ayush Singhal	Rajasthan
2	Kushagra Gupta	Karnataka
3	Daksh	Delhi (NCT)
4	Harsh Jha	Delhi (NCT)
5	Rait Gupta	Rajasthan
6	Shreyas Lohiya	Uttar Pradesh
7	Saksham Jindal	Rajasthan
8	Saurav	Uttar Pradesh
9	Vishad Jain	Maharashtra
10	Arnav Singh	Rajasthan
11	Shiven Vikas Toshniwal	Gujarat
12	Sai Manogna Guthikonda	Andhra Pradesh
13	S.M. Prakash Behera	Rajasthan
14	Bani Brata Majee	Telangana

Category-Wise Top Rankers:

Category	Name	State
OBC NCL	Daksh	Delhi
SC	Shreyas Lohiya	Uttar Pradesh
ST	Parth Sehra	Rajasthan
PwBD	Harshal Gupta	Chhattisgarh

NTA has dropped 12 questions from the final answer key. Candidates will be awarded full marks for the respective questions. The authorities will no longer accept objections to the final answer keys. They will not provide any money to the students who were previously denied an objection.

JEE Main 2025 April Session Registration Open

The JEE Main 2025 April session registration has opened its window at jeemain.nta.nic.in. Crucial dates are as follows:

Last date to apply: February 25, 9 PM
Payment of fee last date: February 25, 11:50 PM

JEE Advanced 2025 and Admission Process

Those candidates who clear the JEE Main 2025 exam will get admission in NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, and other participating institutes through JoSAA counselling. Top 2.5 lakh candidates from JEE Main 2025 qualify for JEE Advanced 2025.

Click here to check JEE Main 2025 Session 1 Results

Supreme Court Directs NTA to Release NEET Marks by Center by Saturday

July 19, 2024, 8:49 am

The Supreme Court, on Thursday, directed the National Testing Agency (NTA) to release the NEET-UG 2024 marks by 12pm on Saturday, including the city and center details of the examinees, while ensuring candidate identities remain confidential.

The Court, which chose to narrow its examination of the NEET-UG 2024’s validity to two specific instances of paper leaks in Patna and Hazaribagh, stressed that its decision on whether to annul the exam and order a retest would hinge on whether the breaches were isolated or systemic.

This position was articulated during a session led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, who emphasized that those advocating for a retest must provide solid evidence of widespread leaks that could undermine the entire exam’s integrity.

“The fact that there was a leak at Patna and Hazaribagh is admitted. The question papers had been disseminated there. We want to ensure whether this was confined to those centres or widespread,” stated the bench, also comprising justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.

The bench highlighted the importance of publishing all results for transparency, especially given the grievances of students who need city-wise and center-wise marks to assess the extent of the breach, in case a pattern of irregularities emerges.

The petitioners also complained that the IIT-Madras report, used by the Centre and NTA to refute widespread leak claims, included data on all 2.4 million candidates, data which the petitioners did not have access to for challenging the report.

“We direct NTA to publish the marks obtained by students at the UG-2024 NEET examination, while, at the same time, without disclosing the identity of the students. The result should be declared city and centre-wise by 12 noon on 20 July 2024 and shall be uploaded on the website of the NTA,” ordered the bench despite opposition to this directive from the SG.

Setting July 22 for the next hearing, the Court requested the investigation report from the Bihar Police, which initially handled the probe before it was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 22. The bench also postponed its decision on commencing the counseling process, which solicitor general Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, said would start in the third week of July.

“The material collected by the Bihar Police through the investigation and the report of the Economic Offences Wing of Bihar Police, before the investigation was taken over by the Central Bureau of Investigation, shall be filed with the Court Master by 5pm on 20 July 2024,” the court’s order said.

This year, 2.4 million students sat for the examination at 4,750 centers across 571 cities globally. However, weeks later, protests erupted across India with students alleging question paper leaks, inflated marks, and arbitrary grace marks, prompting opposition parties to demand a Supreme Court-monitored investigation. The government has consistently dismissed calls for a retest, arguing that the leaks were localized and that canceling the exam would be unfair to successful candidates.

The Court focused on determining whether the leaks were isolated or systemic, as this uncertainty has kept 2.4 million candidates anxious about their future prospects.

Of the 2.4 million candidates, approximately 108,000 qualified for medical seats in government and private colleges.

“We can’t order an exam merely because others want to take a chance. We can reorder only if you can show the sanctity of the exam has been impacted greatly,” the bench remarked as it began final arguments on the petitions filed by the NEET candidates.

While at least 131 candidates pressed for a retest, over 250 successful candidates filed applications opposing the plea.

The court’s observations took into account an incident in Godhra, Gujarat, where a teacher attempted to fill in blank answers on OMR sheets for money but was caught before the malpractice occurred. The bench dismissed this as a “localised” incident, clarifying that their focus would be on the nature of the leak at Patna and Hazaribagh, the timing between the leak and the exam, and the dissemination scale of the question paper.

“What we need to decide now is whether the leak was concentrated at Patna and Hazaribagh or was it so widespread that the sanctity of the entire exam has been compromised? Can we cancel the exam only on this basis or does it fall something short of the benchmark? That’s pertinent for us,” observed the bench.

During the hearing, the petitioners alleged a conflict of interest against the IIT-Madras director, arguing he should not have prepared the report due to his position on the NTA governing body.

SG Mehta countered this by explaining that the IIT-Madras director was an ex-officio NTA member only for conducting the JEE-Advanced exam for engineering entrance and had nominated someone else to attend NTA meetings.

The court also inquired about candidates who succeeded after changing their exam center city and registering afresh on April 9 and 10 following a Rajasthan high court order. SG Mehta and senior counsel Naresh Kaushik argued there was no possibility of malpractice due to these factors, noting that over 12,000 candidates who registered in April failed to score the minimum required marks to qualify.

During the proceedings, Mehta disclosed CBI findings on how the NEET exam was compromised at Hazaribagh and Patna, maintaining that the leak was “localised” and did not involve more than 150 students.

This came after senior advocate Narender Hooda, representing the petitioners, claimed the leak was systemic and occurred on or before May 3, 2024, when the question papers were deposited in State Bank of India and Canara banks for safekeeping. Hooda cited a media report alleging that question papers were transported in an e-rickshaw at Hazaribagh after being couriered by a private agency.

Mehta countered by stating that it was the OMR sheets, not the question papers, that were transported this way. The bench expressed concern over using a private courier for transporting question papers, especially after collecting ₹400 crore from students as entrance fees.

Mehta explained that CBI investigated the entire chain of events, from courier to question paper receipt at exam centers, and described a seven-layer safety mechanism, including automatic alerts for tampering.

Mehta described how the “breach” occurred at the Oasis School in Hazaribagh on May 5, 2024, with an accused entering the exam center at 8:01 am and exiting at 9:23 am.

“There was no leak. No leak but there was a breach. We have recovered footages of someone going inside a particular exam centre at 8.02am on May 5 and coming out at 9.23 am,” he said.

The bench questioned how the question paper traveled to Patna if the breach was at Hazaribagh and how answers were available around 10:15 am for candidates to memorize, as per the CBI reports.

“Will it be possible for them to do it within 45 minutes? 180 questions were to be solved… It appears to be very far-fetched that in 45 minutes, someone took out the question papers and solved them for others to memorise,” said the bench. Mehta replied that there were seven solvers, each given 25 questions.

Mehta clarified that not more than 150 students were involved in the breaches at Hazaribagh and Patna.

“A meticulous investigation has taken place. The person who went inside and took out the question paper has also been identified…One gang member at Hazaribagh sent it to Patna using WhatsApp. Their modus operandi was not to allow students to take photographs because if the question papers were leaked in a widespread fashion, the exam would get cancelled and nobody would earn any money,” Mehta stated.

Parents reportedly paid advance money and postdated cheques ranging from ₹10 lakh to ₹75 lakh, as per CBI reports, with the modus operandi including destroying the question papers to prevent further dissemination.

“We are not taking this matter in an adversarial manner nor are we against the students. But the fact of the matter is that breach was localised and it took place a few hours before the exam,” emphasised Mehta, dismissing claims that high-scoring candidates benefited from the leak by noting that the top 100 candidates were spread across 95 centers in 18 states and Union territories

NEET-UG 2024 Paper Leak Hearing Today: Centre’s Affidavit Submitted; Will Supreme Court Order a Re-Test?

July 11, 2024, 9:14 am

The Supreme Court will hear a series of petitions on Thursday, July 11, concerning the alleged paper leaks and irregularities in the NEET-UG 2024. This comes a day after the Union government submitted a new affidavit, strongly opposing the call for a re-test. The affidavit included a detailed report from IIT-Madras, which refutes claims of widespread malpractices or unfair advantages at certain exam centers.

More than 40 petitions are scheduled for the Supreme Court’s consideration.

During the previous hearing on the NEET-UG 2024 case, a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud heard several pleas and set the next hearing for July 11.

The NEET-UG, administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA), serves as the entrance exam for MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and related courses in both government and private institutions across the country. The NEET-UG 2024 exam, conducted on May 5, was embroiled in controversies over paper leaks and the provision of grace marks to some students.

In its July 8 hearing, the Supreme Court directed the NTA to disclose details about the timing and circumstances of the question paper leak. The court also instructed the central government to submit affidavits outlining their actions and requested a status report from the CBI regarding the NEET-UG examination. The court acknowledged that the integrity of the exam had been compromised.

“The fact that the sanctity of the exam has been compromised is beyond doubt. It is an admitted fact that there is a leak, and the nature of the leak is something that we are determining. If it is not extensive, then there is no cancellation. But before we order a retest, we must be conscious of the extent of the leak as we are dealing with 23 lakh students,” the three-judge bench stated.

The Centre’s affidavit, submitted on Wednesday, asserted there was no evidence of “mass malpractice” or localized benefit leading to abnormal scores in NEET-UG 2024. The affidavit referenced IIT-Madras’s data analytics, which indicated that the marks distribution followed a typical “bell-shaped curve,” suggesting no irregularities.

The Union government’s affidavit also detailed the steps taken to maintain the exam’s integrity and address any malpractices.

The NTA, in its affidavit, stated that only 47 candidates were suspected of involvement in paper leaks and irregularities with OMR sheets. The NTA is considering switching the exam format from OMR (pen and paper) to online tests. It also plans to rely on the IIT-Madras report during Thursday’s proceedings.

In related developments, the CBI arrested two more individuals from Patna on Tuesday in connection with the paper leak case. Sunny Kumar, a NEET-UG candidate, was arrested from Nalanda, and Ranjit Kumar, another candidate’s father, was arrested from Gaya. To date, the investigation has led to the arrest of eight individuals from Bihar and Jharkhand.

NTA Announces CUET UG Retest Dates Amid Grievances And Answer Key Challenges

July 8, 2024, 2:41 pm

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced that a retest for CUET UG candidates will take place from July 15 to 19 if valid grievances concerning the exam’s conduct are identified. This decision was made public on Sunday.

Furthermore, the NTA has published the answer key for the undergraduate entrance exam, although the release of results will be delayed. Candidates have until 6 pm on July 9 to challenge the answer key, according to a senior NTA official.

In an official notice, the NTA stated, “The NTA is also addressing public grievances received regarding the Exam conducted for CUET (UG) – 2024 and received up to 30 June 2024. If the grievance is genuine, the NTA is committed to redoing the Exam for these Candidates at selected Centres any day between 15 and 19 July 2024.” Candidates will receive their admit cards, and the exam will be conducted in CBT (Computer-Based Test) mode only.

Although NTA officials did not comment on specific grievances received, candidates have reported issues such as time loss at certain exam centres and technical difficulties.

This year, over 13.4 lakh candidates registered for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for admission to undergraduate programmes across 261 central, state, deemed, and private universities.

“The challenges raised by candidates will be reviewed by a panel of subject experts. The result will be announced based on the revised final answer key,” the official added.

The delay in CUET-UG results comes amidst ongoing controversies over alleged irregularities in competitive exams like NEET and NET. The CUET-UG exam was conducted in a hybrid mode nationwide for the first time this year. However, the exam scheduled in Delhi was cancelled the night before due to logistical issues and later rescheduled in the national capital.

Earlier, the NTA had announced that the third edition of CUET-UG would be completed within seven days, with no score normalization as all exams were conducted in a single shift.

Tests for 15 subjects were conducted in pen-and-paper mode, while exams for the remaining 48 subjects were computer-based.

During its inaugural edition in 2022, the CUET faced significant technical challenges. Due to subject exams being conducted over multiple shifts, score normalization was necessary during result processing. Amid allegations of irregularities in NEET and NET exams, Subodh Singh, Director General of NTA, was replaced by the Centre last week.

To ensure transparent, smooth, and fair exam conduct, a high-level panel chaired by former ISRO chief R Radhakrishnan has been established.

The NEET exam is currently under scrutiny for various irregularities, including an alleged paper leak, while UGC NET was cancelled after concerns were raised about the exam’s integrity. Both matters are currently under investigation by the CBI.

NTA Sets New Dates for UGC NET and CSIR-UGC NET Exams Amid Changes

June 29, 2024, 7:56 am

The National Testing Agency (NTA) announced new dates for the UGC-NET June 2024 exams, Joint CSIR UGC NET exams, and NCET (National Common Entrance Test) 2024 exams on Friday.

According to the notice, the UGC NET June 2024 exams will take place between August 21 and September 4, the Joint CSIR UGC NET will be held from July 25 to July 27, and the NCET exams are scheduled for July 10. These exams will be conducted in a computer-based format. Previously, the UGC NET June 2024 Cycle was held in pen-and-paper mode but will now switch to the Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode.

The All India Ayush Post Graduate Entrance Test (AIAPGET) 2024 will proceed as planned on July 6, 2024. Candidates are advised to visit the official NTA website (www.nta.ac.in) for more information. For further clarification, candidates can contact 011-40759000 or email at ncet@nta.ac.in, csirnet@nta.ac.in, ugcnet@nta.ac.in, and aiapget@nta.ac.in.

These changes were made due to unavoidable circumstances. On June 19, the Ministry of Education canceled the UGC-NET exam conducted by the NTA on June 18 across various cities. The Ministry cited the need “to ensure the highest level of transparency and sanctity of the examination process” as the reason for the cancellation.

NEET UG Paper Leak Scandal: Government Entrusts CBI With Probe, Removes NTA Director Amid Controversy | 10 Key Updates

June 23, 2024, 7:47 am

The Ministry of Education has handed over the investigation of alleged irregularities in the NEET (UG) Examination 2024 to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a thorough examination.

Here Are 10 Key Updates

The Ministry of Education has tasked the CBI with conducting a comprehensive inquiry into the alleged irregularities, cheating, impersonation, and other malpractices reported during the NEET (UG) Examination 2024.
The government announced, “For transparency on the conduct of the examination process, the Ministry of Education, Government of India, after a review, has decided to entrust the matter to the CBI for comprehensive investigation.”
The Central Government has enacted the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. This law aims to prevent unfair practices in public examinations and address related issues.
The government reiterated its commitment to maintaining the sanctity of examinations and protecting the interests of students. It warned that strict action would be taken against any individuals or organizations found guilty of malpractices.
The National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for conducting the NEET-UG exams, is facing severe criticism over the alleged irregularities. The controversy has sparked protests across the country, with demonstrators and political parties calling for the disbandment of the NTA. Concerns were heightened when an unprecedented 67 candidates achieved a perfect score of 720 marks.
On June 13, the NTA informed the Supreme Court that the scorecards of 1,563 candidates who received “grace marks” would be canceled. These candidates were given the opportunity to retake the examination on June 23, with results expected before June 30.
The Ministry of Education has constituted a high-level committee of experts to recommend reforms in the examination process, enhance data security protocols, and improve the functioning of the NTA.
The seven-member committee, led by former ISRO chairman Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, will submit its report to the ministry within the next two months. The ministry stated, “In order to ensure transparent, smooth, and fair conduct of examinations through the NTA, the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education constituted a High-Level Committee of Experts.”
In response to the criticism, the Centre removed Subodh Singh, Director General of the NTA, from his position on Saturday. Pradeep Singh Kharola, currently Chairman and Managing Director of India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), has been given additional responsibility as the head of the NTA until a permanent replacement is appointed.
Bihar Police detained six more individuals from Jharkhand’s Deoghar district on Friday in connection with the alleged leak of the NEET paper. Previously, the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) had apprehended 13 individuals, including the main suspect, Sikandar Yadavendu. The EOU is also considering conducting narco analysis and brain mapping tests on the accused.

NEET-UG 2024: SC Halts All High Court Proceedings

June 20, 2024, 12:11 pm

The Supreme Court issued a notice regarding a petition filed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to transfer all pleas related to NEET-UG 2024 from various high courts to the apex court. Furthermore, the SC has put a hold on all proceedings in different high courts concerning the alleged leak of the NEET-UG exam question paper.

Additionally, the apex court sent new notices to the Centre and the NTA, requesting their responses to the latest petitions filed by students against NEET-UG. The court also stated that all petitions filed so far will be addressed together on July 8.

It declined to issue any temporary ruling on the matter.

The announcement of the NEET-UG 2024 results on June 4 triggered a considerable backlash from students and their parents. The results faced legal challenges, which highlighted three main concerns.

. First, there were claims that some students received grace marks.

. Second, accusations emerged that the question paper had been leaked before the exam.

. Third, suspicions arose about possible malpractices at specific exam centers.

Supreme Court has once again rejected the request to stop the counseling process for admissions linked to the NEET-UG exam results. The court stated that if the students filing the petition were successful in their legal disputes, it would result in canceling the 2024 exam and the following counseling procedure.

This progress occurred after the session on Tuesday, where a request to annul NEET UG 2024 was discussed. During the discussion, the court noted that the integrity of the exam had been compromised and asked for a response from the National Testing Agency (NTA) on this issue.

CUET UG Answer Key 2024, NTA to Release All Set Provisional Answer Key Soon

June 14, 2024, 1:08 pm

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is anticipated to release the provisional answer key for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET UG 2024) soon. Once available, candidates can download it from the agency’s websites – exams.nta.ac.in/CUET-UG and cuetug-ac.ntaonline.in.

The entrance exam was held on May 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 24, and 29, 2024, in a hybrid format (CBT and Pen & Paper) across various exam centers in 379 cities, including 26 cities outside of India.

In addition to the provisional answer key, the NTA will also release the candidates’ responses and the question papers. Candidates can access these documents and the answer key using their application number and date of birth.

Following the release of the provisional key, the NTA will open an objection window, allowing candidates to submit feedback upon payment of a non-refundable fee for each question.

This year, approximately 15 lakh candidates took the undergraduate entrance test for central universities and other participating institutions. Stay updated on the latest information regarding the CUET UG answer key below.

NEET Row Possibly Fueled by Coaching Centres Hurt by Easier Exam, Govt Sources Indicate

June 14, 2024, 10:44 am

The controversy surrounding the NEET (UG)-2024 examination might be fueled by coaching institutes, according to government sources. These institutes, whose students did not perform well, are allegedly driving the uproar over the reduced syllabus and easier question papers.

On Thursday, the Centre informed the Supreme Court of its decision to revoke the grace marks given to 1,563 candidates, who now have the option to retake the exam administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The Supreme Court did not halt the counselling process. Despite no evidence of a paper leak, some coaching institutes are reportedly raising doubts about the examination’s integrity.

Government sources indicated that coaching institutes with poor-performing students in NEET (UG)-2024 are leading the protests. In contrast, other coaching institutes have remained silent. The 2024 NEET (UG) exam featured a 15% reduced syllabus, saw an increased number of applicants at about 23.3 lakh, and had a relatively easier question paper.

Reasons for Improved Student Performance

Sources noted that coaching institutes, which benefit from a complex and extensive syllabus, are disadvantaged by the simpler NEET (UG)-2024 curriculum. With a more straightforward syllabus, fewer students felt the need for intensive coaching. The higher cut-offs this year were attributed to an additional 20 minutes provided to complete the exam.

With a smaller syllabus, students had sufficient time for thorough revision, leading to better performance and higher scores. Additionally, the absence of an upper age limit and the allowance for unlimited attempts enabled experienced candidates to score higher in subsequent tries. A more challenging question paper would benefit the coaching industry but disadvantage rural students who cannot afford expensive coaching.

Impact of the New Act on Coaching Institutes

In February, the government enacted the stringent Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, introducing comprehensive guidelines for coaching institutions. This Act defines the conditions for registering coaching centres, addresses fee-related issues, sets infrastructure requirements, and establishes a code of conduct. It also emphasizes mental well-being, prioritizes counsellors and psychologists, prohibits batch segregation, and mandates record maintenance. Government sources suggested that this Act might have displeased coaching institutes, leading them to question the NTA’s credibility through the NEET-2024 controversy.

NEET UG Controversy: Retest for 1,563 Candidates Considered

June 12, 2024, 1:11 pm

A committee formed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) is considering a retest for all 1,563 candidates who were awarded “grace marks” for “loss of time” in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) this year. The committee, headed by a former UPSC chairman, is also contemplating offering these candidates the option to accept their “non-normalised score,” which reflects their actual achievement before the addition of grace marks.

The committee, whose exact composition has not been disclosed, is expected to submit its recommendation to the NTA in the next two days. The decision comes after an uproar over the unusually large number of candidates scoring well in the entrance test this year, with 67 candidates securing the perfect score of 720/720.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court, hearing a petition seeking cancellation of the exams amid allegations of a paper leak, expressed concerns about the exam’s “sanctity” and sought answers from the NTA and the Centre. The court declined to stay the counselling and tagged the petition with another to be heard on July 8.

The NEET-UG results, announced on June 4, drew attention when 67 candidates scored the perfect 720/720, and others scored 718 or 719—marks some claimed were not possible in the exam’s scheme. The NTA attributed this to factors such as an easier paper, additional marks awarded to students who lost time due to errors, delays, and an incorrect question.

Of the 1,563 candidates affected, two options are being considered: accepting their pre-normalisation score or sitting for a retest. “Although this is not the final decision, many members are leaning towards the option of asking these candidates to either accept their raw score (pre-normalisation) score or sit for a retest. Majority of the 1,500 candidates scored less than 300 out of 720 marks even after normalisation. It was felt they may not come forward for the retest even if offered as an option. For the remaining numbers it will not be too difficult to conduct the exam again,” said a source who did not wish to be identified.

The Directorate General of Health Services has not yet announced the counselling schedule. If a retest is conducted, the NTA will need to ensure that the results are announced before the counselling process begins.

Approximately 24 lakh candidates took the NEET-UG exam held on May 5 in 571 cities, including 14 outside India. There are a total of 1,08,940 MBBS seats in more than 700 medical colleges across the country.

In a fresh writ petition filed in the Supreme Court, a batch of students raised doubts about the examination’s sanctity in light of the paper leak allegations and urged the court to cancel it and direct the NTA to hold it again.

Rahul Gandhi Ignites Controversy Over NEET : ’24 Lakh Students Devastated Even Before Modi Took Oath’

June 9, 2024, 1:22 pm

In the lead-up to Narendra Modi’s third term swearing-in ceremony as Prime Minister of India, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has directed attention towards the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) controversy, alleging a massive scam impacting over 24 lakh students and their families.

Gandhi, speaking out on social media, accused the Modi government of neglecting the NEET exam irregularities, pointing out anomalies in results such as multiple students from one center securing top positions and scores deemed technically implausible.

“The NEET exam scandal highlights collusion between the education mafia and government,” Gandhi stated, criticizing the authorities’ failure to address the issue promptly.

Gandhi reiterated the Congress party’s commitment to combat such malpractices, citing their manifesto’s promise to enact legislation protecting students from paper leaks.

Pledging support to affected students, Gandhi vowed to advocate for their rights in Parliament, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the future of India’s youth.

Meanwhile, the NEET-UG 2024 results have sparked controversy over alleged irregularities and paper leaks, triggering concerns among medical aspirants regarding admission standards. Conducted across numerous centers, the exam attracted a substantial number of candidates, leading to questions about inflated marks and percentile rankings.

In response to the outcry, the National Testing Agency (NTA) clarified that compensatory marks were awarded to candidates facing time loss during the exam. However, this explanation has not fully assuaged concerns, with students and stakeholders demanding a thorough investigation into the matter.

NTA Unveils UGC NET June 2024 Subject-Wise Exam Schedule; Exam City Slip Expected On June 8

June 1, 2024, 10:02 am

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced the schedule for the UGC NET June 2024 exam. Scheduled for June 18, 2024, the exam aims to facilitate the award of Junior Research Fellowship, appointment as Assistant Professor, admission to Ph.D., or a combination of these in 83 subjects. The exam will be conducted in OMR (Pen and Paper) mode.

Candidates can access the subject-wise exam schedule on the official websites of NTA at https://www.nta.ac.in/ and https://ugcnet.nta.ac.in/. The exam will be held in two shifts: from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM and from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

Anticipated Exam City Slip Release

NTA is expected to release the UGC NET June 2024 Exam City Slip around June 8. The notification regarding the intimation of the Exam Centre City will be available on the official NTA websites 10 days before the exam.

Steps to Download Exam City Slip

Candidates can follow these steps to download the exam city slip:

Visit the Official Website: Go to ugcnet.nta.ac.in.
Find the Relevant Link: Look for “UGC NET Exam City Slip” on the homepage.
Log In: Enter your application number, date of birth, and captcha.
Download the Exam City Slip: Once logged in, download and print the slip for future reference.

Candidates should regularly visit the NTA websites for updates. For further assistance, they can contact 011-40759000 or email ugcnet@nta.ac.in.

Stay tuned for more updates on UGC NET June 2024.

National Testing Agency Declare NIFT, MDes, MFTech, MFM Results

May 9, 2024, 5:37 pm

The National Testing Agency (NTA) declared the results for the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) 2024 Entrance Examination on Thursday. The examination comprised Stage I, which included the General Ability Test (GAT) and/or Creative Ability Test (CAT), held on February 5, and Stage II, consisting of interviews, conducted from April 1 to 6.

According to an official release from the NTA, the NIFT 2024 Entrance Examination was organized for various Bachelor’s and Master’s Programs. Stage I took place on February 5, 2024, across 72 centers in 60 cities. For candidates shortlisted in Stage I for Master’s Programs, Stage II interviews were held in New Delhi from April 1 to 6.

The NTA has now made the scorecards available for Master’s Programs (M.Des., M.F. Tech., M.F.M.) on their website https://exams.nta.ac.in/NIFT/. Candidates can log in to view, download, or print their respective scorecards. The final weighted marks obtained by candidates were determined based on the weights of different tests applicable to their applied courses.

Furthermore, the release mentions that scorecards for candidates applying to Bachelor’s Programs will be released by May 13, 2024. The responsibility of the NTA is limited to conducting the entrance test, finalizing answer keys, and processing and declaring shortlisting status. The release emphasizes that candidates’ provisional status is subject to verification by NIFT in the subsequent admission process.

Any further admission-related procedures will be managed by NIFT authorities, and candidates are advised to contact NIFT for queries regarding seat allocation and other admission-related matters.

NEET UG Exam 2024: Important Instructions Released–Check Here

May 4, 2024, 12:07 pm

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has issued crucial guidelines for candidates preparing to take the NEET UG Exam 2024. Scheduled for May 5, 2024, this national medical entrance test will be held in a single session from 2 pm to 5:20 pm. It is set to accommodate over 24 lakh candidates across 557 cities in India and 14 cities abroad.

Here are the important instructions released by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for candidates appearing for the NEET UG Exam 2024:

Candidates must ensure to download their admit cards and thoroughly verify the details such as photograph, signature, and roll number barcode, as these are essential for identification and verification purposes during the examination.
It is crucial for candidates to arrive at the exam centers on time as per the reporting/entry time mentioned on the admit card.
Candidates should patiently wait for instructions from the invigilator and refrain from leaving their seats until advised to do so.
It is advisable for candidates to familiarize themselves with the location of the examination venue a day prior to the exam to avoid any last-minute difficulties.
Entry to the Examination Centre will strictly be prohibited without the admit card, valid ID proof, and undergoing proper frisking.
All candidates are required to carry certain items to the exam hall, including a personal transparent water bottle, an additional photograph identical to the one uploaded on the application form, the admit card, and a self-declaration with a postcard-size photograph.
Valid identity proof, preferably Aadhaar Card (with photograph), E-8 Aadhaar, Ration Card, or Aadhaar Enrolment No. with Photo, must be carried by candidates to the center.
Personal belongings such as electronic devices, mobile phones, and other banned or prohibited items listed in the Information Bulletin are strictly forbidden from being brought into the Examination Centre.
Upon completion of the test, candidates must submit the OMR Sheet (both Original and Office Copy) and retain only the Test Booklet.
Candidates will not be permitted to take bio-breaks during the first hour after the start of the exam and the last half-hour of the exam.

JEE (Main) 2024 Results Announced: 56 candidates achieve 100 percentile

April 25, 2024, 10:34 am

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the results for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2024 for Paper 1 (BE/BTech), revealing that 56 candidates achieved a perfect score of 100 percentile. The NTA has announced that scores for Paper 2A (B.Arch.) and 2B (B.Planning) will be issued separately for the JEE (Main) – 2024 Session 1.

Among the top scorers, 15 are from Telangana, seven each from Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, and six from Delhi. In Delhi, Shayna Sinha, Madhav Bansal, Tanay Jha, Ipsit Mittal, Bhavesh Ramakrishnan Karthik, and Arsh Gupta are among the six who achieved the 100 percentile.

Out of 11,79,569 registered candidates, 10,67,959 appeared for the exam, with 3,29,600 female candidates, 7,38,351 male candidates, and 8 candidates from the third gender. In the disability category, 3,779 candidates registered, of which 3,369 appeared, with 744 male and 2,625 female candidates.

The Ministry of Education, Government of India, entrusted the NTA with the responsibility of conducting the JEE Main from 2019 onwards. For the Academic Session 2024-25, the NTA conducted the JEE (Main) – 2024 in two sessions, Session 1 (January 2024) and Session 2 (April 2024), in 13 languages.

Session 2 of the JEE (Main) 2024 was conducted at 571 examination centres in 319 cities, including 22 cities outside India. Session 1 was conducted in about 544 centres in 291 cities, including 21 cities outside India.

Strict action, including three-year debarment, has been initiated against 39 candidates for using unfair means (UFM). The examination was conducted following the norms and procedures for high-stakes examinations, ensuring a fair and equal opportunity for all candidates.

The JEE Main examination is crucial for students aiming to pursue undergraduate courses in engineering and architecture in top institutions in India, such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), and other centrally funded technical institutions (CFTIs).