NEET-UG 2024 result: Centres involved in controversies show subpar performances, NTA shows

The state and centre-wise medical entrance test result data, announced by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Saturday, indicated that applicants who took the exams from centres which allegedly benefited from the paper leak and other irregularities have in reality not performed well.

The NEET-UG 2024 data now available to the public, revealed that while the performance of candidates from centres under the scanner, like the Oasis School in Hazaribag (Jharkhand), and Hardayal Public School in Jhajjar (Haryana), or for that matter the Jay Jalaram International School in Godhra (Gujarat), were comparatively below par vis-a-vis not just the centres in coaching hubs but also thousands of others which have not attracted any taint for irregularities.

This development could be seen as important considering NTA's assertion that the leak was confined to Hazaribag, and since those involved have already been identified and disqualified, there is no necessity to annul the test.


Supreme Court had on Thursday ordered the NTA to upload on its website by Saturday noon the centre-wise results of the examination taken by more than 23 lakh students vying for over 1 lakh MBBS seats. This directive aimed to pinpoint candidates who gained from the NEET-UG question paper leak in Bihar and assess the extent of the leakage.

The court was responding to the contention of the petitioners' counsel, senior advocate Narender Hooda, that the veracity of NTA's stand which, he claimed, was at odds with the findings of Bihar Police which exposed the Hazaribag leak, should be ascertained by analysing the centre-wise results.

In Oasis School, which is implicated in the alleged leak, there were 701 candidates, none of whom scored 700 or higher. Seven candidates scored between 650 and 699, and an additional 12 candidates scored between 600 and 649. Interestingly, fewer than 1% of candidates at Oasis School achieved scores of 650 or above.

In contrast, at St Xavier's School in the same city, over 2% of candidates scored 650 or higher, with one candidate achieving a score above 700. Notably, the examination center at St Xavier's in Hazaribag has not been subjected to scrutiny.

Just like those who appeared at Oasis School, candidates who took exams at the centre in Jay Jalaram School in Godhra, where the administration engaged in corrupt practices to help a few crack the exams, have not done well. This is also true for Hardayal Public School in Jhajjar, Haryana, where controversy arose after candidates were awarded grace marks due to inadequate time to complete the exam.

The school in Godhra had one of the lowest percentages of candidates scoring 600 or higher, with none of the 1,836 students achieving scores above 700, and only 0.4% (7 students) scoring 650 or above. In Jhajjar, despite the provision of grace marks, only five students scored 720.

The grace marks were rescinded by the NTA, leading to a retest. At Hardayal Public School, out of 494 candidates, none scored above 700, and only two managed to achieve scores of 650 or higher. A total of 15 candidates scored 600 or above at this center.

Even candidates scoring between 600 and 650 may find it challenging to secure a seat in government colleges. Out of the 23 lakh examinees, 13 lakh qualified, but more than 30,000 scored above 650, positioning themselves favorably for the 56,000 seats available in government colleges with affordable fees.

This year, the total number of seats available, including those in private colleges, is 1.1 lakh. Candidates scoring below 630 face the risk of not securing admission in a reputable medical college.

The Godhra case was registered on May 8, three days after the exam, against five people based on information that they had helped 27 medical aspirants cheat. All five were charged with criminal conspiracy, cheating, and criminal breach of trust under sections of IPC. The arrested suspects include Vadodara-based education consultant Parshuram Roy, Jay Jalaram School principal Purushottam Sharma, teacher Tushar Bhatt, and alleged middlemen Vibhor Anand and Arif Vohra.

CBI has taken over five cases of alleged malpractice in NEET-UG that were being probed by police in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Bihar.

(With TOI inputs)