NEET-UG 2024: What Will Happen to Students Who Missed NEET-UG Retest?

New Delhi: Nearly half of the students eligible for the NEET-UG 2024 retest did not show up, according to the National Testing Agency (NTA). Following a Supreme Court ruling, 1,563 students who were previously awarded grace marks were given the opportunity to retake the exam. However, only 813 students (52 percent) attended the retest on Sunday, leaving 750 students absent, as per NTA data.

So, what will happen to the students who did not take the NEET retest? Initially, these students were granted grace marks by the NTA due to exam disruptions. Later, the NTA retracted these grace marks, annulling the scorecards of the 1,563 NEET-UG 2024 candidates who had received them. These candidates were then offered a chance to retake the exam on June 23, with results promised by June 30.

Students who did not participate in the retest must now accept their original scores without the grace marks.

Why Were Students Awarded Grace Marks?

The NTA had initially awarded grace marks to 1,563 students due to "loss of exam time." The agency used a formula previously approved by the court for the CLAT exam in a similar situation in 2018.

The issue began when an unusually high number of candidates scored a perfect 720 in the NEET-UG exam. These perfect scores were initially attributed to the grace marks awarded because of a faulty question and logistical issues during the exam.

However, a subsequent investigation by the Bihar Police revealed that some candidates had received the exam questions the night before the test. This led to widespread accusations of a leak, resulting in nationwide protests and legal challenges. The Supreme Court intervened, criticizing the NTA's handling of the situation.

CBI takes over the probe

In the latest development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the probe following a complaint from the Ministry of Human Resources. The retest occurred on the same day the CBI registered an FIR concerning alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG exam held on May 5. The CBI filed the case after receiving a complaint from the Education Ministry amid protests by students demanding an investigation into the paper leak allegations.

Students who missed the retest are now left to contend with their unaltered original scores, affecting their potential admissions and future academic plans.