Controversy over university admission exam ignites widespread protests in India
A crucial medical exam in India has sparked anger, protests, and allegations of cheating after thousands of candidates secured unusually high marks this year.
Millions of students take the exam annually, but only a small percentage achieve scores high enough to secure a college placement. This year, however, an unexpected number of candidates received top marks, disrupting the ranking system and making it difficult for even high scorers to gain admission.
When results were announced on June 4, it was revealed that an unprecedented 67 students had achieved a perfect score of 720. Since 2016, when NEET became the official entrance exam for medical colleges in India, only one to three students per year have achieved full marks, and some years none at all. Additionally, there was a significant increase in the number of candidates scoring between 650 and 680 marks, further intensifying the competition for seats in India’s top medical colleges.
In response, students and parents have demanded a re-test, and dozens of petitions have been filed in court. The National Testing Agency (NTA), the government organization responsible for conducting some of India's biggest exams, has denied allegations of paper leaks. However, Federal Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan acknowledged that "some irregularities" had been discovered in certain exam centres, stating that no one, including NTA officials, would be spared if irregularities were confirmed.
Despite these assurances, the situation offers little consolation for students who spend months or even years preparing for this highly competitive exam. Every year, tens of millions of students in India aspire to gain admission to reputable medical or engineering colleges, professions that command significant respect and promise steady, long-term income in a country facing a jobs crisis.
This year, an astounding 2.4 million students competed for just 110,000 available seats in the NEET exam, highlighting the intense pressure and fierce competition faced by aspiring candidates. Of these seats, 55,000-60,000 are in government-run colleges, while the remainder are offered by private institutions. Additionally, half of the seats are reserved for underprivileged students.
