NEET-UG 2024: Over 4 Lakh Students To Lose 4 Marks Over Disputed Physics Question

New Delhi: In a significant development affecting over 4 lakh NEET-UG 2024 candidates, the Supreme Court of India has ruled that only one answer out of a disputed set of four will be considered correct. This decision, stemming from concerns over “Question No. 29” in the Physics section, will lead to a deduction of four marks for over 4 lakh students, including 44 who achieved a perfect score of 720/720.

The controversy arose when a student identified that “Question No. 29,” on atomic theory, had two valid answers instead of one. Following this claim, the Supreme Court requested a review from a team of experts at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. The experts confirmed the anomaly, prompting the court to rule that only Option No. 4 would be considered correct.

The Supreme Court’s decision came after extensive hearings, where Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra reviewed evidence and submissions. Despite dismissing petitions for a retest and declaring no evidence of systemic malpractice or paper leaks, the court acknowledged the issue with the specific question.