📷 Image Credits: The Indian Express
In a surprising turn of events, NEET UG 2024 witnessed a record-breaking 67 students achieving an All India Rank (AIR) 1. This unprecedented outcome has sparked discussions among students and experts regarding the impact on cut-off scores and admissions. The National Testing Agency (NTA) recently explained that this significant rise in toppers can be attributed to a noteworthy change in the NCERT books, particularly in the Chemistry section of the NEET UG 2024 exam. The pivotal moment arose when a question related to atoms was presented to the students during the Chemistry exam.
The issue surfaced when the NTA discovered, following objections to the provisional answer key, that discrepancies existed in the correct answers provided by both the NTA and the NCERT books. Specifically, the conflict arose due to two options in the question being deemed correct according to both the old and new versions of the NCERT books. The old NCERT publication stated that ‘Atoms of each element are stable,’ while the new version asserted that ‘atoms of most elements are stable.’ Consequently, the NTA was compelled to award 5 marks to all students who had selected either of the conflicting options. This adjustment led to 44 students witnessing an increase in their scores from 715 to 720, consequently resulting in a surge in the number of toppers.
When questioned about the primary reason behind the record number of NEET UG toppers this year, the NTA clarified that while the NCERT book alteration played a significant role, other contributing factors included the comparatively easier difficulty level of the exam and the substantial increase in the number of registrations. This year, a staggering 23.81 lakh students registered for the NEET UG exam, signifying a noteworthy rise from the 20.87 lakh registrations recorded the previous year. Data shared by the NTA revealed that the exam witnessed a total of 9,96,393 male candidates, 13,31,321 female candidates, and 17 transgender candidates appearing for the exam.
Despite concerns raised by students regarding potential repercussions for General category candidates due to the increased number of toppers, the NTA dismissed such claims. The NTA emphasized that the opportunities for General category students have not been compromised, and the exam’s overall ease level ensures that no student will be disadvantaged. This development in NEET UG 2024 has not only set a new precedent with a record number of toppers but also sheds light on the evolving dynamics within the education sector.
