SHILLONG: Thousands of NEET-UG aspirants in Meghalaya were left disheartened on Thursday after the central government decided to allow only 1,563 candidates, who were granted grace marks, the option to take a re-test on June 23.
This development comes following persistent demands for re-examination from aspirants in Meghalaya due to reported irregularities during the NEET exams in Jowai and Nongpoh.
The Centre informed the Supreme Court on June 13 about its decision to cancel the scorecards of the 1,563 candidates who received grace marks and offer them the opportunity to re-take the exam.
The National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for conducting NEET exams nationwide, assured that results would be declared before June 30.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma had previously assured stakeholders in Meghalaya of escalating their concerns to the central agency, but formal responses from the NTA had been awaited.
Various student unions and pressure groups in the state had been advocating for re-examination, expressing dissatisfaction over the handling of the discrepancies.
The NTA’s decision not to entertain a broader re-examination amidst emerging irregularities has drawn criticism, raising questions about transparency and candidate welfare.
Earlier, on May 5, candidates from Jowai and Nongpoh had reported receiving incorrect question papers during the exams, which were held for the first time in these locations.
Despite seeking clarification, candidates received no satisfactory explanation, exacerbating their concerns.
The matter was brought to the attention of State Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) and Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) through a joint letter.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma subsequently took to social media on May 7 to announce the escalation of discrepancies to the NTA for review.
On June 9, the NTA acknowledged allegations of mark inflation and exam inconsistencies and constituted a panel to scrutinise the irregularities.
However, the decision to conduct a re-test for only 1,563 candidates has disappointed aspirants across Meghalaya.
The situation remains tense as candidates and stakeholders await further developments and seek clarity on the future course of action regarding NEET-UG exams in the state.
