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NEW DELHI: The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET PG) 2024 is facing controversy as a plea for its postponement has been filed in the Supreme Court, alongside allegations of paper leaks surfacing on social media. The exam is scheduled for August 11, 2024 and the admit card is scheduled to be released today, 8th August. The petitioner argues that numerous candidates have been assigned test cities that are highly inconvenient to reach, creating significant logistical challenges.
According to the petition, the allocation of test cities was made on July 31, 2024, with specific centres set to be declared on August 8, 2024.While the intent behind this scheduling was to prevent malpractice, the petitioner contends that the short notice has made it nearly impossible for students to make necessary travel arrangements. The petition highlights that over two lakh students are scheduled to appear for the examination, which will be held across 185 test cities. This extensive spread has resulted in non-availability of train tickets and a significant hike in airfares due to dynamic pricing. This has made it difficult for a large number of students to reach their designated test centres.
“Given the short notice, it has become highly difficult for students to make arrangements for their travel to their specific cities,” the petition states, as quoted by LiveLaw. The plea, filed through Advocate on Record (AoR) Anas Tanwir, states, “…more than two lakh students are scheduled to appear in the aforestated examination. The examination is scheduled to be held in 185 test cities, therefore resulting in non-availability of train tickets as well as hiking of air fares due to dynamic pricing thereby making it almost impossible for a large number of students to reach their test centres” .
Additionally, the petitioner seeks the disclosure of the normalisation formula of the four sets of question papers to ensure transparency and eliminate any possibility of arbitrariness in the evaluation process. The petition adds, “The fact that the examinations will be conducted in two batches and that the formula for normalisation is unknown to the candidates thereby causing an apprehension…there is a likelihood that one batch of candidates may face a more difficult question paper than the other batch” .

NEET PG 2024: Social media claims of paper leak

The petition’s urgency is further underscored by a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) by the ALL FMGs ASSOCIATION (AFA). The post claims that NEET PG 2024 exam papers are being sold for Rs. 70,000 on Telegram. The post reads, “Just look at this, how confidently #NEETPG2024 papers are being sold in telegram. Confidential letters about centres & exam are getting leaked. Exam dates and centres seem to be changing frequently. What’s more upcoming?”

Such claims have exacerbated the anxiety among students, adding to the demands for a postponement and more transparency in the examination process. The petitioners argue that these allegations have created an environment of distrust and vulnerability, prompting many students to seek assurances regarding the integrity of the examination process.

NBEMS clarification about rumours of NEET PG paper leak

In response to these allegations, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have issued a press release denying any potential leakage of the NEET PG 2024 examination papers. The press release states, “Media reports claiming potential leakage of NEET PG 2024 Examination Paper are false and misleading. NBEMS has registered a police complaint against fraudsters and their accomplices for attempts to befool NEET PG aspirants in the name of providing questions of NEET PG 2024 for money.”
The NBEMS clarified that the question papers for NEET PG 2024 have not yet been prepared, and thus, any claims of paper leaks are baseless. The press release further advises candidates not to be misled by such unscrupulous elements and to report any suspicious activities to NBEMS or the local police. “It has come to the notice of NBEMS that some unscrupulous agents are making false and bogus claims by dint of social media platform viz. Telegram Messenger. The cozeners are claiming to provide NEET PG 2024 questions for the upcoming NEET PG 2024 Examination in exchange for a considerable amount of money,” the statement said.
The NBEMS has taken a firm stance against these fraudulent activities by registering a police complaint against those attempting to deceive aspirants. “It is clarified that NBEMS has already registered a police complaint against such fraudsters and their accomplices for their attempt to befool NEET PG aspirants in the name of providing questions of NEET PG 2024 for a considerable sum of money,” the press release adds.