NEET Controversy & NET Debacle

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), a national exam for medical aspirants, has become a battleground for integrity. Over 2.4 million candidates took the NEET, competing for just 100,000 spots in medical schools (Dainik Bhaskar, 2024). However, irregularities in marks and an unusually high number of toppers raised suspicions. Allegations of paper leaks and multimillion-dollar cheating scams have led to arrests across the country.

While the country was focused on the results of India’s national election on June 4, the NEET results stunned students and teachers alike: 67 students scored a perfect 720 out of 720, up from two students last year (Al Jazeera, 2024). Two years ago, the topper had scored 715 marks – the candidate with that score this year ranked the 225th.

On 19 June, India’s newly formed coalition government also cancelled the UGC NET that selects candidates for public-funded research fellowships, just a day after a million students wrote the paper. Following issues with the NEET UG 2024 results and the cancellation of the UGC NET on account of an alleged paper leak, the National Testing Agency (NTA) announced the postponement of the CSIR UGC NET 2024 until further notice “due to unavoidable circumstances as well as logistic issues”. This followed reports that questions had been leaked “in the darknet” and were circulated on Telegram, said Dharmendra Pradhan, India’s education minister. The minister, however, did not specify how the paper was compromised. “Question leak is an institutional failure from the NTA. We are assuring that there will be a reform committee and action will be taken,” he said (Al Jazeera, 2024).

The NTA, responsible for conducting these exams, has come under severe criticism. Its failure to prevent leaks and maintain the integrity of exams has jeopardized millions of students’ careers. Legal experts and opposition leaders have called out the NTA’s incompetence. The agency’s primary job—to conduct exams—has been compromised, leaving students in distress.

The NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) controversy highlights several key problems within India’s examination system. Corruption and malpractices are rampant, with over 40 instances of paper leaks reported in 15 states over the past five years. This includes the recent abrupt cancellation of the NEET-PG exam just hours before it was scheduled, revealing severe lapses in security measures such as the absence of CCTV cameras and inadequate strong room security. Are the people in the Ministry of Education even eligible to make such decisions? The National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for managing these exams since its inception in 2017, has consistently failed to meet its objectives, leading to a significant loss of credibility. Despite claims of conducting tests efficiently and transparently, the NTA’s management has been frequently questioned.

The impact on students is profound, as many invest significant time and money in preparing for these exams, with poorer students particularly affected due to the high costs of coaching. NEET is perceived as unfair to state board students and those from rural areas, favouring Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) students. This centralization issue is a major concern, as it disregards regional differences and challenges, leading to calls for a more decentralized and regionally sensitive exam system. Tamil Nadu’s opposition to NEET, citing it as anti-poor and unfair, underscores the systemic flaws and the need for a more inclusive approach.

Moreover, the structure of NEET favours wealthier students, resulting in fewer doctors willing to serve in rural areas, and contributing to a widening social divide. The increasing number of student suicides, driven by extreme pressure and the fear of failure, further highlights the urgent need for reform. Tamil Nadu’s persistent pushback against the centralized system exemplifies the necessity of considering local contexts in the examination process. The NEET controversy thus serves as a wake-up call for comprehensive reforms to ensure a fair, reliable, and inclusive examination system in India.

The Broader Problem

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is facing several significant issues in managing India’s competitive exams. One major problem is that the NTA primarily conducts computer-based tests to handle a large number of candidates quickly. However, since the National Informatics Centre (NIC) lacks the necessary IT infrastructure, third-party technical partners are hired. This outsourcing removes accountability from the government, creating opportunities for exploitation by dishonest entities. The NTA is also severely understaffed, having only about 25 permanent staff positions. Since its inception, it has relied heavily on outsourcing its functions to technical partners. This lack of in-house staff contributes to various operational challenges.

Another major issue is the absence of robust security mechanisms. Large-scale pen-and-paper exams require secure procedures at multiple stages, including setting and encrypting question papers, selecting external printing presses and exam centres, transporting materials, and collecting and transporting answer sheets. Without strong security, each of these stages is vulnerable to malpractice. Beyond specific incidents, India’s examination system faces systemic challenges:

Valorization of Certain Professions

The education system in India tends to glorify certain professions, leading to joblessness in other fields. The focus on a few select careers creates an imbalance, with many graduates finding limited opportunities in their respective disciplines.

Lack of Continuity Between School and Higher Education

There is a significant gap between school education and higher education, compelling students to rely on coaching centres as a bridge. This dependency arises due to the economic insecurity that drives students towards these knowledge providers, seeking better preparation for competitive exams.

Intentional Design Flaws

The current educational framework is flawed. It does not teach school students the content expected in admission tests, nor do these tests evaluate what students have learned in school. This disconnect forces students to seek additional coaching to succeed in entrance exams.

State’s Approach to Coaching Centers

Instead of addressing the underlying issues in the education system, the state prefers to manage the coaching centres. The state’s reluctance to rectify the educational gaps perpetuates the reliance on these centers, rather than fostering a more cohesive and effective education system.

India’s examination system faces significant challenges, including paper leaks and corruption scandals. To improve it, we need transparency, curriculum alignment, economic support for underprivileged students, mental health services, smart technology solutions, and a focus on honesty (Pradhan, 2024). By working together, we can create a fairer and more reliable system for all students.

References

AISHE. (2022). Annual Status of Higher Education in India Report. Ministry of Education, Government of India.

Al Jazeera. (2024). Education Minister on UGC NET Cancellation Due to Paper Leak. Al Jazeera. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com.

Dainik Bhaskar. (2024). NEET Controversy and Implications on Medical Admissions. Dainik Bhaskar. Retrieved from https://www.dainikbhaskar.com.

Pradhan, D. (2024). Statement on Exam Integrity Crisis and Reforms in NTA.

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Sunit Singh is currently doing his MA in Sociology from the Department of Sociology, Delhi School of Economics (DSE), University of Delhi.