In a decisive clarification brought to the Supreme Court, a trio of experts from IIT Delhi has confirmed that there is only one correct answer to the contentious physics question from the NEET-UG 2024 examination. The experts’ analysis concluded that option four of the question, stating “Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect,” is the sole correct response, resolving the ongoing debate over the correct answer.
The controversy surfaced during the examination held on May 5, attended by over 23.33 million students nationwide and abroad. Questions arose when differing interpretations of the answer led to a mixed allocation of marks among the test-takers, prompting legal challenges and demands for a retest due to alleged malpractices including a question paper leak.
Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice JB Pardiwala, presiding over the case, tasked the Director of IIT-Delhi, Rangan Banerjee, to assemble a team of physics department experts to scrutinize the question. The prompt delivery of their findings by Tuesday noon helped pacify the contentious atmosphere surrounding the examination’s integrity.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA), defended the original marking scheme during the ongoing hearing, which also addresses broader allegations concerning examination malpractices.
