The National Testing Agency (NTA) has revealed that many students skipped the NEET-UG retest conducted on Monday. According to the data released by the agency, 48% of the 1,563 eligible students did not appear for the exam.
The retest was held after the Supreme Court ordered the NTA to provide grace marks to certain candidates. The NTA had set up seven exam centers across Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Meghalaya, and Chandigarh to accommodate the students.
Breakdown of the Retest Attendance:
- Chandigarh: 2 eligible students, both absent
- Chhattisgarh: 602 eligible, 311 absent, 291 took the retest
- Gujarat: 1 eligible, and the student attended
- Haryana: 494 eligible, 207 absent, 287 took the retest
- Meghalaya: 464 eligible, 230 absent, 234 took the retest
The poor attendance raises concerns about the students’ challenges and the examination process’s overall integrity.
Amid the retest, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a First Information Report (FIR) concerning alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG exam held on May 5. The CBI is investigating the matter following a complaint from the Education Ministry, which cited “certain isolated incidents” in a few states during the examination.
The CBI has formed special teams to investigate the cases of question paper leaks filed by the police in Gujarat and Bihar. The agency is also looking into the role of officials, if any, connected with the conduct of the examination and the larger conspiracy.
The NEET-UG row has sparked student outrage, leading to protests and litigation seeking a probe into the alleged paper leak claims. The Supreme Court has also sought responses from the Centre, the NTA, and others on various petitions, including those seeking the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2024 exam and a court-monitored investigation.
As the investigation into the NEET-UG irregularities continues, the high absenteeism rate in the retest has only added to the ongoing concerns surrounding the examination process.
