In affidavit to SC, Centre says no large-scale irregularities in NEET-UG, counters calls for re-examination

The Narendra Modi-led government has filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court amid the escalating NEET row. The Centre said there there was no need to re-conduct NEET-UG 2024 in the absence of any evidence of large scale irregularities in the examination. It also contended that a fresh exam would adversely affect the lives of lakhs of genuine candidates.

“It is also submitted that at the same time, in the absence of any proof of any large-scale breach of confidentiality in a pan-India examination, it would not be rational to scrap the entire examination and the results already declared. Scrapping the exam in entirety would seriously jeopardize the lakhs of honest candidates who attempted the question paper in 2024,” the government said.

The Centre said that it has already asked the Central Bureau of Investigation to conduct a comprehensive probe into entire gamut of alleged irregularities.

The affidavit was submitted in response to a batch of petitions filed by candidates, coaching institutes and parents of the NEET-UG aspirants. Allegations of irregularities, including paper leaks, have led to protests in several cities and sparring between rival political parties in recent weeks. The apex court is scheduled to hear a batch of pleas seeking directions for a fresh examination on July 8.

The development came even as the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences announced fresh dates for the NEET PG exam on Friday. The test had been postponed mere hours before it was to begin on June 22 as a “precautionary measure”. The NEET PG exam will now be conducted in two shifts on August 11. The cut-off date for purpose of eligibility to appear in the NEET-PG 2024 exam held for admission to postgraduate medical programmes in government or private medical colleges remains August 15.

(With inputs from agencies)