ABSTRACT:
The NEET UG [National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test- Undergraduate] examination conducted by NTA [National Testing Agency], an entrance for the beginning of a new academic session into the field of medical studies at very known government institutes of India has significantly brought out several controversies in the session of 2024 with the severe allegations of paper leaks, malpractices, improper examination facilities and for all the above reasons subsequent legal actions have taken place, bringing the integrity of the examination process under scrutiny. This research paper looks upon the legal as well as the educational implications of the NEET UG examination, the scandal of NTA in the year 2024, and related controversial aspects along with delving deeper into the historical aspects, key legal battles, judgements, shifting of policies and the role of influential individuals. By examining the viewpoints of several stakeholders, this paper seeks to offer a thorough understanding of the controversies, consequences and difficulties that took place related to the conduct of the NEET UG examination.
KEYWORDS: Paper leaks, Malpractices, Standardization, Security, Transparency, Unification.
INTRODUCTION:
The NEET UG is a complexly critical examination for admissions of students to the medical and dental government colleges in India. Even though NEET UG was originated to simplify and standardize the admissions process for the college authorities, it has turned out to be a cause of numerous legal issues, disputes and unwanted scandals. The issue of misconduct in 2024 is characterised by the accusations of leaked papers, malpractices, improper conduct, etc. showing several legal and improper implementation-related issues. This paper looks upon several battles related to the legality, judicial responses, changing policies and broader educational implications of the NEET UG 2024 and its misconduct.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:
This qualitative study explores the NEET UG 2024 scandal and its legal and educational implications through a literature review, case study analysis, stakeholder interviews, and document analysis. The research involves reviewing academic papers, legal documents, news articles and reports to understand the historical context. Semi-structured interviews with students, educators, legal experts, and policymakers provide diverse perspectives, while document analysis of official reports and court judgments offers detailed insights. Key court cases like “Christian Medical College, Vellore & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors. (2013)” and “Medical Council of India v. Christian Medical College, Vellore & Ors. (2016)” are analysed. Semi-structured interviews with students, educators, legal experts, and policymakers provide diverse perspectives, while document analysis of official reports and court judgments offers detailed insights. Data analysis employs thematic, content, and comparative methods. Ethical considerations include informed consent, confidentiality, and maintaining objectivity.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Research has shown that high-stakes examinations like NEET can lead to increased stress and anxiety among students (Kumar et al., 2020). Moreover, the high competition and pressure to perform well can lead to unethical behaviour, including cheating and impersonation (Singh et al., 2019). Recent reports have highlighted a scam involving impersonation and cheating in the NEET UG examination (Times of India, 2024). This scam has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the examination’s security measures and the potential impact on the fairness of the admission process. Studies have shown that cheating and impersonation are common issues in high-stakes examinations (Bawa et al., 2018). Moreover, research has highlighted the need for robust security measures to prevent such incidents (Gupta et al., 2020). While there is a significant body of research on cheating and impersonation in examinations, there is a lack of literature specifically focusing on the NEET UG scam. This research aims to address this gap by exploring the causes, consequences, and potential solutions to the recent NEET UG scam.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
NEET UG was invented to address the discrepancies and accusations of misconduct associated with several different entrance examinations conducted by different medical and dental colleges under state as well as central institutions. Back in 2013, their establishment was principally facilitated by the Central Board Of Secondary Education [CBSE] and Medical Council Of India [MCI] which was later taken over by the National Testing Agency [NTA].
DECISIONS OF COURT AND LEGAL CONFLICTS:
NEET UG has undergone with a number of court battles and has evolved a lot with the help several judicial rulings and significant court decisions that have taken place recently.
Let’s have a look at a few major rulings that played a greater role in the evolution of this Medical Entrance Examination.
- Christian Medical College, Vellore & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.
Vellore’s Christian Medical College back in 2013 challenged NEET UG with an argument that it infringed upon the rights of minority, private and unaided institutions. In a landmark ruling the Apex Court invalidated NEET UG, saying that it violated the independence of these institutions. Later, held by the court that the MCI didn’t have the authority to mandate a single entrance exam
- Medical Council of India v. Christian Medical College, Vellore & Ors.
The Apex Court reversed its decision which was taken back then in 2016, reinstating NEET UG. The court highlighted the importance of a single assessment to ensure a transparent nature and reduce certain unwanted malpractices in the admissions of young medical freshers. This decision emphasized the importance of maintaining high standards in medical education while protecting the rights of private institutions.
- Reservation Policies
Policies of reservation too have faced several legal scrutinies in NEET UG. The major argument in this scenario was particularly concerning the number of seats in private, deemed as well as government institutions of medical studies. Even though the Supreme Court has constantly asked for a proper implementation of reservation to avoid disadvantaging the weaker sections and ensuring they do not compromise merit, it has been seen that students with literally extremely high marks are not able to get good government institutions whereas the reserved students with least marks too are getting seats causing distress among the unreserved category.
- Assessment Structures And Curriculum
A lot of legal battles have been registered concerning the syllabus and the exam pattern of NEET UG. Major arguments included the CBSE-focused syllabus which eventually disadvantaged the students of the state boards and upon this pleas have been filed to standardise the curriculum in order to avoid favouring any particular board.
- Discussions Related To NEET UG 2024
With the generation of national attention, provoked protests as well as the involvement of severe legal issues, controversy over the conduct of NEET UG 2024 started as soon as students left their particular exam centres. The main points of concern included direct allegations of malpractices, paper leaks and misconduct of the examination on the exam day also how the authorities concerned gave a clean chit initially which showed their inefficiency in handling the issues by authorities.
- Reaction of the Judiciary and Additional Legal Proceedings
Numerous applications are yet to be submitted in different high courts, including the Supreme Court, contrary to these accusations. These requests are against the elimination of the NEET UG 2024 exam and a clean administration instead. According to the petitioner’s view, the current paper exposure favoured specific aspirants over others hence compromising with our National values of Equity as encompassed in the Indian constitution. The Supreme Court ruled in favour of the plaintiff’s assertion that the current paper scenario was more inclined towards favouring a few aspirants over others and in the process violated our nation’s cherished value of Equity as enshrined in the Indian constitution. Consequently, in what would go down as a groundbreaking pronouncement, the apex court instructed NTA to carry out a probe on those claims and present findings within a stipulated period. Furthermore, it ordered that NEET UG 2024 outcomes remain pending until such enquiry is through.
- Malpractice and paper leak Allegations
The emergence of reports of cheating and paper leaks after the NEET UG 2024 examination caused an extreme level of sadness among the students, their parents as well as all the educators. Several pieces of evidence also showcased then papers were leaked before the official conduct of the exam time, compromising the integrity of the examination and as a course of action these allegations prompted demands for a thorough investigation and swift legal action.
- NTA’s Investigation and Findings
NTA carried out a complete investigation into the accusations of malpractice and paper leakage after the Supreme Court directed it to do so. It was discovered that the examination process had several shortcomings such as security breaches in various regions and organized syndicates participated in paper malpractices as well.”
According to the findings, NTA proposed that the NEET UG 2024 exam should be cancelled and put in place ways of avoiding such incidents in the future which entailed putting up improved methods of protecting examinations establishment’s surroundings, having more capable guards with advanced gadgets for surveillance as well as use of modern apparatus for checking malpractice during exams.”
- The Apex Court’s Final Decisions
The Supreme Court upheld the NTA’s recommendation to cancel the NEET UG 2024 examination upon reviewing the investigative report by. The apex court then ordered NTA conduct go for fresh exams within specified deadlines by ensuring that there were enough safeguards against any form of malpractices during such exams which may occur. However, some stakeholders supported this verdict as one way of promoting equity whereas others felt sorry for the students who might suffer due to this action and they termed it unjust.
- Modifications in The Policy And Governmental Recourse
Due to the controversy surrounding 2024, the central and state administrations have made several policy alterations to touch on concerns raised by different proponents. Such alterations have at times been influenced by court judgments and lawsuits.
- Formation of the National Testing Agency [NTA]
The primary objective of the establishment of the NTA to carry out NEET UG was to guarantee the examination process’s effectiveness and honesty. To attain this, NTA took measures that would increase transparency and lower malpractices such as those involved in online applications using technology, biometric verification as well as centralized counselling.
- The Inclusion of Various Regional Languages
The government changed the NEET UG to incorporate regional languages to cater for other students as instructed by the courts. The motive was to allay the fears of those in the South who felt that their children were disadvantaged because they spoke some other tongue than English or Hindi which still enabled them to do well in examinations.
- The Inclusion of Various Regional Languages
The government changed the NEET UG to incorporate regional languages so as to cater for other students as instructed by the courts. The motive was to allay the fears of those in the South who felt that their children were disadvantaged because they spoke some other tongue than English or Hindi and still enabled them to do well in examinations.
- Guidelines for the Reservation
In order to make sure that underprivileged and marginalized communities had equal access to medical education, the government enacted rules on reservations. The Supreme Court has been at the center of giving directions and sustaining these rules though they have been constantly challenged in law courts.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN 2024
Several significant developments in the legal landscape of NEET UG took place in the year 2024:
- The Supreme Court’s Mental Health Directive:
In relation to an increase in the number of complaints about the mental health of NEET UG aspirants, the Supreme Court issued instructions to the NTA and Ministry of Education to take measures that would reduce any potential psychological pressure on students. This involved the provision of guidelines for counselling services as well as stress management workshops besides putting into consideration issues concerning preparation with regard to mental health awareness. This directive was influenced by numerous petitions highlighting student suicides and mental health issues.
- Policy Modifications to the Exam Pattern:
Additionally, The Supreme Court took cognizance of complaints with respect to the investigation arrangement. In a historical verdict, the tribunal summoned NTA to fully evaluate the NEET UG syllabus for conformity with multiple state curricula. As such, this decree was intended to lessen the handicap that pupils from state boards had while at the same time enhancing fairness in order for all participants to be at par during exams.
- Adjustments to Reservation Policies:
More lawsuits were brought against NEET UG reservation policies in 2024. Yet the Supreme Court required clearer guidelines for reserving but demanded a less opaque and more efficient procedure. Hence it called upon the Federal Government to set down specific parameters under which private as well as self-governing colleges could enforce reserved seat allocations so that excellence would not be compromised as it happens now during admissions despite some measures being taken‘ Institutional Admissions Committee must comply fully.’
- The Implications for Education:
Despite the fact that this paper primarily emphasizes the law aspect of NEET UG; however, its educational implications must be also mentioned here. In India, the NEET UG’s introduction contributed a lot to shaping how the educational system operates by changing curriculum design, teaching methods together with culture of exams.
- The Unification of Medical Instruction:
The aim of NEET UG is to bring uniformity in medical education across the country by way of holding a single examination for all colleges offering medical and dental courses. To this end, the standard of evaluation is guaranteed by NEET UG. Adaptation to the NEET UG curriculum has since led to enhanced quality in medical teaching since the institutions must use it.
- Obtaining High-Quality Education:
NEET UG has made quality medical education accessible to all by offering the same standard to students with different backgrounds; introducing regional languages and well as steps towards making it more inclusive in terms of syllabi. Nonetheless, there are disparities when it comes to the availability of tutorials and other materials needed for revision which makes it tough for learners from poor families and remote areas, among other things.
- Effects on State Boards:
There are concerns that the dominance of the CBSE curriculum in NEET UG may be having negative effects on students from state boards. The claim is that the syllabus puts students in these boards at a disadvantage because its main basis is the CBSE curriculum which differs considerably in teaching methods and subject coverage. This has therefore led to some people calling for more harmonization between the NEET UG syllabus and state-level curriculum so that all individuals/applicants compete fairly.
Though the NTA recently released a press release on the matter
SUGGESTIONS:
1. Top Drawer Safety Measures: To avoid any upcoming irregularities enhanced security protocols need to be put in place that may require advanced monitoring technologies in examination centres.
2. Transparent Inquiry Processes: In order to maintain fairness and neutrality in solving examination issues, creating an independent body to look into corruption claims becomes necessary.
3. Student Support Systems: Mental health support systems, counselling services as well as stress management resources should be made available for the students preparing for exams with high stakes in the event that we are to reduce the emotional struggle they go through.
4. Curriculum Standardization: The fairness and equality of all students in terms of their educational background can be guaranteed if the NEET UG syllabus is made to be in line with the state board curricula.
5. Inclusive Policy Implementation would ensure that transparent and effective implementation of reservation policies strikes a balance between merit and social justice, thus providing equal opportunities in medical education to disadvantaged communities.
CONCLUSION:
NEET UG has gone through turbulent times from the legal wrangles over autonomy and reservations to complaints regarding malpractices and paper leaks. The resulting legal responses and adjustments in policy were aimed at striking a balance between justice, meritocracy and inclusiveness vis-à-vis diversity in medical admissions. Moving forward, effective collaboration among policymakers, educational institutions, and regulatory agencies will be crucial to enhancing NEET UG’s transparency, integrity, and accessibility. This requires continuous evaluation of examination processes, adaptation to evolving educational standards, and proactive measures to prevent malpractices. By learning from past controversies and prioritizing students’ interests, NEET UG can continue to serve as a cornerstone in India’s pursuit of excellence in medical education.
BHOOMI BELANI
SYMBIOSIS LAW SCHOOL, NAGPUR.