Candidates who appeared for the NEET-UG exam expressed their frustration after the National Test Agency cancelled the entrance test for medical courses held on May 3, following an alleged paper leak in Rajasthan. Many students complained about the difficulty of having to appear again, especially while awaiting results.
Student Reactions
Arunodoy Bhakta, a resident of Kharda who had taken the medical entrance test, described the news as a shock. "I am feeling upset after getting this news. I was expecting the result date to be announced soon. Instead, I learned that I have to appear for the test again. Competitive exams require a certain mindset," he said.
Several other students expressed similar discontent, highlighting the challenges they faced and raising questions about security at exam halls. A student from Salt Lake remarked, "We underwent a thorough check before entering the exam hall. We also had to follow certain guidelines, apparently set to ensure a fair exam. Invigilators were very strict, and I had trouble with time management during the exam. Despite all this tight security, how did the paper leak? Why do students have to suffer at every instance?"
Parental Criticism
Dibyendu Banerjee, father of another candidate, criticized the re-test decision and the handling of the examination process. "This is ridiculous. The agency has declared the exam cancelled, but what about the students who prepared for the test for over two years, and then gave their best, hoping to score well? The agency cannot even ensure security for exams," Banerjee said. He added, "I faced a problem with my son's admit card and had to send multiple emails to the NTA to get it corrected. If they are so strict, why can't they prevent such lapses? A similar scam was reported two years ago, but they took the matter lightly, and the same thing has happened again. This time, on a larger scale, and within two years. This is very unfortunate. They cannot play with the future of youngsters."
Exhaustion and Frustration
Araghni Bhowmik, who had appeared for the ISC exams from DPS Newtown, said he felt exhausted at the prospect of taking the exam again. "I was quite confident about the first examination that I appeared for on May 3. Now it is cancelled and we are being told that we will have to appear for a retest. It is really a very tiring prospect for me. Not only do I have to revise old lessons, but it is also exhausting because I had spent several sleepless nights preparing. Now all those efforts feel wasted. The paper might be a bit difficult this time. But I have no other choice and have to appear for the retest. I will start revising immediately," he said.
Call for Reform
The All India Democratic Students' Organisation issued a press statement, calling for a united voice against continuous irregularities and insecurity surrounding central examinations. It also called for building a nationwide movement demanding a fair, democratic, and reliable examination system.
In the 2024 NEET-UG, 67 candidates achieved a perfect score of 720/720, and many of the toppers were from the same exam centre, leading the matter to the Supreme Court. Instead of ordering a retest, 26 students were suspended and 42 candidates were debarred from the examination for three years.
