Supreme Court Clarifies Controversial NEET-UG 2024 Physics Question

During the hearings on a batch of 40 petitions concerning the NEET-UG 2024 exam, the Supreme Court sought clarification on a disputed Physics question, number 19, which had led to demands for cancellation, re-test, and investigation into alleged misconduct. Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice JB Pardiwala instructed the Director of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT-D) to convene a panel of experts to review the question and provide a report by July 23 at noon.

Key Findings

• Expert Opinion: The IIT Delhi experts concluded that among the options provided, only one answer was accurate. They determined that Statement I, which says “Atoms are electrically neutral as they contain equal numbers of positive and negative charges,” is correct. However, Statement II, which asserts “Atoms of each element are stable and emit their characteristic spectrum,” is incorrect.
• Controversial Question: The question in dispute was:Physics Question 19:
  Given below are two statements:
  • Statement I: “Atoms are electrically neutral as they contain equal numbers of positive and negative charges.”
  • Statement II: “Atoms of each element are stable and emit their characteristic spectrum.”
  Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
  1. Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct.
  2. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct.
  3. Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect.
  4. Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect.
  The IIT Delhi experts confirmed that option 4, which states “Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect,” is the accurate answer.
• Awarding Grace Marks: The National Testing Agency (NTA) initially awarded full marks to students who selected either option 2 or option 4 as correct, leading to discrepancies in marking.

Impact on Students

• Affected Groups:
  • Group 1: Received a deduction of five marks for selecting the correct answer.
  • Group 2: Awarded four marks for choosing a different answer.
  • Group 3: Did not answer the question out of uncertainty or fear of negative marking.

The Supreme Court’s directive to re-evaluate the scores is aimed at addressing these discrepancies and ensuring fairness for all students. The IIT Delhi assessment has been pivotal in resolving this issue, as it confirmed the correct answer and highlighted the inconsistencies in the initial marking scheme.

The Supreme Court’s decision underscores its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the examination process while addressing the concerns of students affected by the controversy.