NEET UG 2024: NTA To Declare Final Results In Two Days With Revised Merit List

New Delhi: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday announced that the final results of the medical entrance exam will be declared within two days. This comes after Supreme Court in its verdict said that no re-test will be conducted in the 2024 NEET UG examination. Welcoming the top court's decision, the minister said that truth has prevailed in the matter.

Addressing a press conference, Dharmendra Pradhan said, “Satyamev Jayate'. Truth has prevailed. NTA will announce the final results for the NEET-UG within two days. Exam's merit list will be revised according to the observations made by the Supreme Court."

The top court dismissed the pleas seeking cancellation and re-test of the controversy-ridden 2024 NEET-UG, holding that there was no evidence on record to conclude that the exam was "vitiated" on account of "systemic breach" of its sanctity.

“The Centre had been saying there was no large-scale leak and the Supreme Court has upheld that,” he said. 

He further added that the government has zero tolerance for any kind of breach and the sanctity of exams is "supreme for us".

“If anybody is found involved in exam irregularities, they will not be spared,” the education minister said.

Attacking the opposition, he alleged that it is trying to create "anarchy and civil unrest" over the NEET issue.

What Transpired in Supreme Court During NEET UG Hearing

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled against cancelling the NEET-UG 2024 exam, stating that there is no data to suggest a "systemic breach" or that the "sanctity" of the examination, had been affected. The court noted that ordering a fresh examination for this year would have significant repercussions for the over 24 lakh students who have already taken the test. The court accepted that the leakage of the question paper is "not in dispute."

However, it stated that there is currently no evidence to determine whether the exam results were compromised or if there was a systemic breach in the integrity of the examination.

The bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud, Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra noted that directing a fresh NEET UG for the present year would be replete with serious consequences which will be for over 24 lakh students who appeared in this exam.. and cause disruption of admission schedule and cascading effects on the course of medical education."

Cancellation of Exam Not Justified

CJI-led bench said that ordering cancellation of the entire exam is neither justified on application of settled principles propounded by the apex court on the basis of material on record. The court admitted the fact the question paper was leaked is "not in dispute", but said there is no material on record at this time.

NEET-UG ControversyThe NEET UG examination was conducted by the National Testing Agency on May 5 at 4,750 centres in 571 cities in the country and 14 cities abroad, with 23 lakh candidates appearing for the examination.The results were declared on June 4, which immediately caused a hue and cry with aspirants raising multiple issues. An unprecedented 67 candidates achieved a perfect score of 720 marks out of 720 led to widespread protests in the country.