NTA refutes NEET UG question paper leak allegations, says all question papers accounted for
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The National Testing Agency (NTA) denied on Monday that NEET examination papers were leaked, calling the allegations “completely baseless” and “without any ground.”
The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) for admission to medical courses was held across the country on Sunday, with more than 24 lakh students registering this year.
Since the exam was held on Sunday in 4,750 centers across 571 cities, people have been posting on social media about a question paper leak.
In a statement issued on Monday, NTA stated that every question paper has been “accounted for” and that the alleged images of the question paper circulating on social media have nothing to do with the actual paper.
“According to the NTA’s security protocols and Standard Operating Procedures, any social media posts pointing to a paper leak are completely false and without any foundation. To put rumors to rest, Sadhana Parashar, senior director, NTA, said in a statement that every single question paper has been accounted for.
NTA Official Press Release on NEET (UG) Question Paper Leak
She stated that no external person or agency is permitted to enter the centers once the examination begins, and after the gates are closed, no one from outside is permitted to enter the halls, which are monitored by CCTV.
“All other photographs of question papers circulating on social media have no relation to the actual examination question paper which has been administered,” she went on to say.
The NTA claimed on Sunday that the distribution of incorrect question papers at an exam centre in Rajasthan resulted in some candidates walking out with the papers. However, the agency denied that any question papers had been leaked.
“The integrity of the examination process was not jeopardised. The exam was later rescheduled for the 120 affected candidates at the center,” it stated on Sunday.
The agency stated on Monday that the images of the question papers from the aforementioned incident are being linked to an alleged paper leak that is “mischievous and preposterous”. “There is no way any external person/agency can access the centres, once the examination starts,” the National Testing Agency (NTA) stated.
However, the agency acknowledged that there have been instances of malpractice or impersonation, with strict action taken against impersonators and candidates. “In addition to the foregoing, NTA conducts post-exam data analysis to identify cases of Unfair Means (UFM). Action on UFM cases is taken in accordance with existing rules, which include the cancellation of candidature and disqualification from future examinations,” the NTA stated.
