Timestamp of video showing NEET-UG paper leak was edited; 153 cases of unfair means reported: NTA to Supreme Court

The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducted the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) (undergraduate) 2024, has informed the Supreme Court that a central piece of evidence to show that a mass paper leak had happened a day prior to the exam on May 5, was edited to create a "false impression of an early leak". .An affidavit filed by the NTA states that the video in question allegedly shows a photo of the exam paper leaked on Telegram on May 4, "but one image, which was edited, displays a timestamp of 17:40 P.M. on May 5, 2024." "Additionally, discussions within the Telegram channel indicate that members identified the video as fake. The timestamp was manipulated to create a false impression of an early leak," reads the NTA reply. .Further, the NTA has contended that comments and discussions on social media further corroborate that the images in the video were edited, and that the date was intentionally modified to suggest a leak on May 4."The screenshots highlight the fabricated nature of the claims made in the video...A neutral third party posted a video demonstrating how the date on the examination could be edited to show May 4 instead of the actual date," reads the reply by NTA. .NTA has submitted that 153 cases of unfair means have been reported and then placed before a committee handling the same, which submitted its recommendations for appropriate action. The committee recommended for the withholding of the results of 81 candidates and debarment of 54 candidates upto 3 years, the affidavit says.As a result, 16 FIRs have been registered regarding NEET (UG) 2024.The NTA has also sought to counter claims that paper leaks took place in Patna and Sawai Madhopur..The agency further addressed the submission of the petitioners that 67 students scored a perfect score of 720/720.1. Out of 67 students, 6 scored 720 in view of the grace marks awarded. Once grace marks were cancelled and retest was held, they could not get 720/720 and thus actual number was 61.2. Out of 61 candidates, it was only 17 candidates were obtaining 720/720 marks based on Provisional Answer Keys and 44 are on account of the revision in one Answer Key of Physics.3. These 44 candidates who had selected incorrect option and secured 715 marks earlier, due to the revision of answer key were able to secure 720 marks. Thus, the actual candidates without revision of answer key were only 17 candidates which is not significantly higher in number than previous years.4. For the year 2024 the syllabus was reduced by approximately 22-25% on recommendations of a committee with representations from approximately 32 different school boards..NTA has also contended that it analysed the results of the top 100 candidates, who are distributed across 95 centres located in 56 cities within 18 states/UTs of the country."This diverse distribution highlights the widespread participation and competitive spirit among students from different regions and educational backgrounds," NTA said..There is no doubt that NEET-UG held on May 5 was compromised by a question paper leak, the Supreme Court had said earlier in July.The NTA was directed to inform the Court about steps taken to identify beneficiaries of the leak, the steps taken by the NTA to identify the centres/cities where the leak took place, and the modalities followed to identify beneficiaries of the leak.The present affidavit has been filed in compliance with the same..The Court is seized of a batch of petitions relating to alleged irregularities - including allegations of mass question paper leaks - in the conduct of the NEET-UG exam this year.On June 11, the Supreme Court ordered the NTA to respond to some of the petitions but refused to halt counselling for admissions of students to medical colleges.The Central government as well as the NTA had earlier contended that there is no need to cancel the exam or hold a re-examination, as there was no proof of large-scale breaches of confidentiality.The next hearing in the case is on July 11, Thursday..[NEET-UG] Data analytics show no abnormalities in exam results; malpractices not likely: Centre to Supreme Court