New Delhi: Is the National Testing Agency (NTA) an investigating agency, or a fact-checking body? This question is doing the rounds as medical aspirants, parents, activists and doctors — amidst the controversy over the NEET UG 2024 results row — are highlighting how the autonomous and self-sustained testing organisation is handling its social media presence.
A look at its handle in social media platform ‘X’ shows that the NTA, which stoutly maintains that there is no paper leak, is actively bringing out posts regarding the medical entrance results as well as responding to queries put out by students and politicians alike.
The agency had formed a high-powered panel to examine the issue of grant of compensatory/grace marks to 1,563 candidates. Later, a decision was taken to cancel the grace marks awarded to these students, who would be given the option to appear for a re-test.
Now, with every development, there are new reactions on social media. The NTA is responding to the posts of all — be it political leaders, doctors, common netizens, or social media pages.
Former Telangana minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K.T. Rama Rao was among those ‘X’ users whose post elicited a response from the testing agency.
“I am sure the NDA Government has many challenges as they form a new Govt. But the one that deserves highest priority is the most sensitive issue about the future of millions of students; the Fiasco of #NEET2024result,” he posted Saturday.
To this, the agency replied, “NTA clarifies that due to compensatory marks, two candidates happened to secure 718,719 marks.”
— National Testing Agency (@NTA_Exams) June 12, 2024
Another verified ‘X’ user Ankit Kumar Awasthi, who identifies himself as a civil servant, found the NTA respond to his post in which he sought answers “given the sanctity of NEET-UG 2024 has been affected”.
“NTA Clarifies that none of the reports are backed with evidence that may indicate a paper leak. These cases seem to be related to cheating, impersonation and not to paper leaks,” the agency responded.
Similarly, another popular ‘X’ user, who goes by the name The Skin Doctor, too got a response to his post that one candidate who barely passed the bio exam had cleared the NEET with good rank.
To this, the NTA replied with this post: “In such cases, NTA clarifies that meeting the required pass percentage in the qualifying examination is crucial for admission. Since the candidate has not qualified for the class-XII Examination which is an eligibility condition, she is not eligible to get admission based on her scores secured in NEET (UG)- 2024 only.”
Dr. Vivek Pandey, who identifies himself as a whistleblower on ‘X’ and is also actively vocal about the NEET 2024 result row, has got three replies from the NTA.
One of his three posts that got a response was a story of ThePrint that he shared on the social media platform.
“NTA is an exam conducting agency, not a fact-checking or Investigating agency. Two days back, the NTA’s main X account was commenting on posts of many accounts who are raising their voice against irregularities in NEET 2024,” Pandey told ThePrint.
“Rather than taking a stand against this corruption, the NTA is trying to suppress the voice of the people. Why? It means there is something big happening and they want to hide. I want to tell the government to form a Special Task Force to probe this corruption.”
Delhi-based Pandey had guided one group of aggrieved candidates to file their petition in the Supreme Court in the ongoing NEET results row.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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