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Officials of the NTA said there were 63 cases of students using unfair means in NEET-UG 2024, out of whom 23 have been debarred for varying periods, but the sanctity of the medical entrance exam has not been compromised and there has been no paper leak.

The result of the remaining 40 candidates found using unfair means have been withheld, NTA DG Subodh Kumar Singh told PTI. “A committee was constituted consisting of three eminent experts in field of examination and academics to put forward different types of cases reported such as impersonation, cheating and tampering with OMR sheet,” he said.

He added: “On recommendations of the panel, 12 candidates were debarred from taking the exam for three years, nine candidates debarred for two years and two candidate for one year each. The result of remaining candidates has been withheld. The panel had given recommendations for each case.”

Singh said the total number of cases of usage of unfair means was 63.

The agency is under criticism amid allegations of irregularities and inflation of marks in the crucial medical entrance exam. The matter has also reached the top court, which said on Tuesday (June 12) the sanctity of the NEET-UG 2024 has been affected and sought responses from the Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA) on another plea seeking holding of the examination afresh on grounds of alleged question paper leak and other malpractices.

Amid fire from protesting students and opposition parties, the education ministry last week set up a four-member panel to review the grace marks awarded to 1,563 students to compensate them for loss of time due to delay in starting examination at certain centres.

“The panel is yet to submit its report. Depending upon the panel’s recommendations, either a retest will be conducted for nearly 1,600 students or an alternate mechanism may be devised to ensure no candidate faces any disadvantage,” he said.

Asked about allegations of marks inflation due to which 67 candidates have bagged top rank, Singh said, out of 67 candidates who got 720 out of 720 marks, 44 candidates received marks on account of revision of answer key of physics and six on account of loss of time.

“Only two candidates who got grace marks have received 718 and 719 marks,” he added.

Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)