NEET UG 2024 Verdict

Context: The Supreme Court ruled that there would be no re-test for the NEET UG 2024 exam.

Ruling:

• The court concluded that the exam irregularities impacted around 155 beneficiaries and found no evidence of systemic failure in its conduct.

Issues Raised:

1. Systemic Deficiencies: Cases registered by the CBI in locations such as Hazaribagh, Godhra, and Latur show that many malpractices were committed by invigilators, city coordinators, and individuals authorized by the NTA.
2. Inadequate Investigations: The NTA and CBI did not take sufficient action to determine if other centers faced similar issues.
3. Flawed Statistical Analysis: The report by IIT Madras was considered superficial and contained inaccuracies, such as overlooking the performance of candidates who had a change of center.
4. Uneven Distribution of Top Ranks: Data shows a skewed distribution of top ranks concentrated in coaching hubs like Kota and Sikar.
5. Economic and Gender Bias: The high costs of coaching and cultural factors create an uneven playing field, favoring wealthy and male students.
6. Urban Migration: The uneven distribution of opportunities leads to urban migration, with the middle class moving to cities with CBSE schools, as seen in Ratnagiri.

Way Forward:

• Transparency: Make all relevant data public and conduct long-term studies, similar to the Rajan Committee Report commissioned by the Tamil Nadu Government.
• Balancing Centralization and Inclusivity: Develop policies that balance the benefits of centralization with the inclusivity and relevance of regional higher education policies.