NEET-UG 2024 Counselling Postponed Amid Paper Leak Controversy

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has postponed the counselling for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) that was scheduled to start from today (6 July).

The counselling has been postponed till further notice.

On 21 June, the Supreme Court declined to postpone the counselling for the NEET-UG 2024 examination, stating that it is not a straightforward process.

The apex court issued notices to the National Testing Agency (NTA), the Centre, and others in response to a petition seeking the exam's cancellation due to alleged irregularities.

Around 24 lakh medical aspirants took the NEET-UG 2024 on 5 May.

The results, initially set to be declared on 14 June, were announced earlier on 4 June, as the answer sheets were evaluated sooner than expected.

However, the exam has been marred by allegations of a question paper leak and the awarding of grace marks to over 1,500 candidates, leading to protests and petitions in seven High Courts as well as the Supreme Court.

A vacation bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti has scheduled the hearing for these petitions on 8 July.

The petitioners' counsel had requested a temporary pause in the counselling process until the court could address the pleas, but this was not granted.

Meanwhile, the National Board of Examinations (NBE) announced the new date for the NEET-PG exam, which will be held on 11 August.

This exam, crucial for admission to postgraduate medical courses, will be conducted in two shifts.

The NEET-PG exam, originally scheduled for 22 June, was postponed hours before its start due to the controversy surrounding the alleged irregularities in the UG exam.

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