By Arunima Rajan

Healthcare Executive speaks with students, activists, doctors, and academics to delve into the repercussions of the irregularities in NEET exam and consider if computer-based testing (CBT) could be the answer.

When nineteen-year-old Pari Nanda received her NEET results in June 2024, she felt hope and uncertainty. A dedicated student from Haryana, Pari had taken a year-long break after her 12th standard exams to prepare for NEET, dedicating twelve hours each day to her studies. A CBSE student with an impressive 89 per cent, Nanda's ambition to become a doctor was ignited during the pandemic when doctors were hailed as real-life heroes. "They were our heroes during COVID," she reflects, "and I wanted to do something for society."

Despite her relentless efforts and scoring 520 in NEET, Nanda's dreams were soon clouded by news of irregularities in the examination process, which emerged after the results were announced. Her general category status likely bars her from securing a coveted seat in a government medical college. "I hope I get at least BDS this year," she adds, a hint of resignation in her voice. Her father runs a small business, and her mother is a teacher. The family had invested around ₹80,000 for a year's medical coaching, hoping for a brighter future for her.

Nanda's experience is not an isolated case. Across India, many NEET aspirants are grappling with similar disillusionment and frustration. The news of examination irregularities has cast a shadow over countless students' hard work and dedication. Raunak Singh, another dedicated student, embodies the widespread struggle and disappointment that has come to define this year's NEET results.

Raunak Singh's Struggle

Singh's despair is almost palpable, a sharp contrast to her envisioned bright future. The recent revelations about irregularities in the NEET examination have hit her hard. This was her fourth attempt at clearing the test, a journey that started in Kota and continued for three gruelling years of home study. With a score of 585, she would have easily secured a medical college seat in Madhya Pradesh if the landscape hadn't shifted so dramatically this year. But with soaring cutoffs, her dreams teeter on the edge of collapse.

Both students find themselves in a disheartening situation, symbolic of the struggles many NEET aspirants face this year. Singh's voice, filled with frustration and sorrow, echoes the sentiments of countless students. "My parents had such high hopes for me. They trusted that I would clear the exam this time. The NTA has shattered our dreams," she laments. "If I don't get in this year, I'll have to settle for BDS and maybe do an MBA. It's not what I wanted, but what choice do I have?".

She is among many students pleading for a retest, convinced that a month is ample time to prepare. She argues that ensuring suitable candidates become medical professionals is paramount. The pressure on students is immense, with distressing reports of suicides among aspirants in Kota and other hubs of intense study.

The NEET examination process has cast a spotlight on the immense emotional and psychological strain placed on students. The stories of these young aspirants underscore the pressing need for systemic reforms to safeguard the future of India’s healthcare sector. Raunak’s parents, unwavering in their determination to support their daughter’s dream, reveal the far-reaching consequences of a flawed system. This is not just about individual students but about the very foundation of India’s medical future, highlighting an urgent call for thoughtful and impactful reforms.

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) results were released on June 4, just 23 days after the May 7 examination, sparking surprise and concern nationwide. The swift announcement raised many eyebrows in a country where admission to top medical colleges is a formidable challenge. Nearly 2.4 million aspirants appeared for the exam, vying for seats in undergraduate medical programmes. The examination, a rigorous assessment in physics, chemistry, and biology, comprised 180 objective questions evaluated through optical mark recognition technology. Held across 4,750 centres in 571 cities, NEET remains a national spectacle characterised by immense ambition and anxiety.

The issue has also drawn the attention of experts and healthcare activists nationwide.

"Each year, NEET UG and PG entrance tests face issues during their conduct, assessment, and result announcement. While updating examination patterns to match evolving times and syllabi is necessary, a strong and effective entrance examination system for MBBS, MD, or MS admissions is still lacking. This lack of transparency often prevents deserving students from securing their preferred seats," says Sumana Y, Consultant Wellness Specialist at Gleneagles BGS Hospital in Kengeri, Bengaluru.

Evolution of Medical Admissions

Sumana explains that around 30 to 40 years ago, merit-based marks lists primarily determined admissions into MBBS, MD, or MS courses. However, as the number of seats and applicants increased, entrance examinations were introduced, leading to numerous changes in the examination patterns over the years. Problems such as question paper leaks, dictated answers, seat blocking, and rank list tampering have persisted despite being exposed multiple times, and little has changed to address these issues.

Current Issues

However, this year's NEET exam became a farce when an astonishing 67 students miraculously scored a perfect 720 out of 720, a feat typically achieved by only a few. To add a twist to this bizarre tale, six to seven of these high achievers were from a single center in Haryana. On June 7, the Indian Medical Association Junior Doctors' Network reached out to the National Testing Agency's chairperson, flagging this statistical improbability. To compound the confusion, some exam centers experienced delays, leading to the allocation of grace marks—a decision that is now being reversed.

Raj Shekhar Yadav's Fight for Justice

Raj Shekhar Yadav, State Convenor of the United Private Clinics and Hospitals Association of Rajasthan (UPCHAR), spearheads a legal battle to address the NEET examination's irregularities. He contends that this year's exam, tainted by multiple issues, should be annulled and re-conducted, with the counselling schedule postponed until these problems are rectified.

Yadav highlights several critical concerns, starting with the Patna paper leak and unusually high scores in the 620-720 range, which suggest a scam involving purchased question papers. He criticises the NTA for arbitrarily awarding grace marks, a mistake uncovered by students. He also notes that extending the registration window allowed 24,000 more applicants, enabling dummy candidates.

Further, Yadav points out the inadequate surveillance at exam centres, with many lacking the required CCTVs and proper storage facilities. He condemns the NTA's reliance on contractual employees and outsourcing, comparing it to "Ola or Uber," which he argues creates vulnerabilities. He suggests that CBSE should take over conducting the exam.

Calling for systemic reform, Yadav advocates for a two-step exam similar to JEE, utilising the CBT format to ensure transparency and fairness. He insists that the NTA must be held accountable, demanding a more reliable and transparent system to safeguard the aspirations of India's future doctors.

Dhruv Chauhan

The NEET controversy has spawned a wave of social media doctor influencers, wielding platforms like Twitter and Instagram to amplify student issues. Among them, 26-year-old Dhruv Chauhan stands out with 69.9K followers on Twitter. As the National Council Coordinator of the IMA-Junior Doctors Network, Chauhan fields between 500 to 1,000 messages from NEET aspirants daily and regularly tweets about their struggles. His activism in healthcare began early, shedding light on issues such as ragging in medical colleges and the inadequate infrastructure at AIIMS Madurai. Now, with the Delhi Cancer Institute, Chauhan insists that a reexamination is the only viable solution to the current predicament, dismissing partial retests as insufficient. “The plight of first and second-year resident doctors is worsening, as they are now burdened with double the workload due to the absence of new junior batches and the gap left by final-year seniors who have already passed,” he adds.

Vivek Pandey's Crusade

"Even before NEET, I saw leaks on social media and alerted the authorities in March and May," says RTI activist Vivek Pandey. "They acknowledged my complaint, but nobody took me seriously." Instead of giving up, Pandey fought on, filing a petition in the Supreme Court with a few aspirants against the NTA when more details of the Bihar paper leak emerged. He also filed an RTI seeking clarifications about the grace marks awarded by the NTA.

Pandey's crusade is deeply personal. As a young student, he faced similar issues while attempting the Madhya Pradesh Pre-Medical Test. He took the test 2 times without success, only to later realise the reason was the Vyapam scam. He eventually cracked the exam and completed his MBBS but dedicated himself to helping other students by advocating for transparency in medical examinations. Today, he runs a support group for around 4300 students and has filed 1,200 RTIs since 2016. "The only solution is to conduct two screening tests, a preliminary and a main exam, rather than CBTs," he argues. "This will bring more transparency to the system."

Government and Judicial Actions

The Supreme Court, having consolidated various petitions related to this debacle, is set to untangle this mess on July 8. The Centre and the NTA have been admonished to own up to any bungles, with the Court stressing that even a minuscule error must be rectified. The government has decided to scrap the grace marks given to 1,536 students, offering them a chance to retake the exam on June 23 sans the grace.

Experts have been harping on the need for rigorous vetting of exam centres and personnel, leveraging technology to prevent leaks, strict surveillance, and a transparent, efficient system for evaluating answer sheets.

Raj Mruthyunjayappa, Chairman and CEO of Talisma Corporation, emphasises that the NEET fiasco results from deliberate mismanagement. "Technology solutions available can address this issue," he explains. "However, adopting these technologies and implementing new methods requires board and government approval. We need to overhaul the process, starting with training and reskilling policymakers on new technology solutions. This enables them to make informed decisions. The next step is to implement the technology itself. Well-proven algorithmic generative AI solutions can eliminate the concept of set papers, thereby preventing question paper leaks. Students also need training in using these new technologies, moving from traditional OMR sheets to marking on computers or tablets at the time they choose. These technologies are already in use in many countries and selective sectors within India. We must move decisively towards this approach rather than trying to find half-measured solutions within the current system."

Meanwhile, Anil Sahasrabudhe, former AICTE chairman and the chairman of the National Educational Technology Forum and National Board of Accreditation highlights the administrative efforts. "The education ministry constituted a high-level committee of experts under the chairmanship of K. Radhakrishnan, Former Chairman, ISRO and Chairman BoG, IIT Kanpur, to ensure transparent, smooth, and fair conduct of examinations. We hope the committee delivers the solutions to make examinations transparent and error-free," he adds.

Govind Rangarajan, director of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore, seconds his views, "The Government has already formed a high-level committee. Let's wait for all the inputs to come. We need to have patience," he adds.

The 2024 NEET scandal has dealt a crushing blow to the ambitions of countless medical hopefuls, including Pari Nanda and Raunak Singh. This debacle underscores an urgent need for comprehensive reforms in the examination system to restore integrity and fairness. Ensuring the dreams of India's future doctors are protected is not just necessary but imperative. Only with decisive action can trust in the system be restored, paving the way for a fairer and more hopeful future for all deserving candidates.

NEET Scandal: Aspirants' Dreams Shattered by Exam Irregularities