The Central Board of Secondary Education or CBSE denied in the Madras HC that NEET question papers in vernacular languages were easier than the question papers in English medium. CBSE filed a counter affidavit in Madras High Court on June 6, 2017. Earlier, the Madurai bench of Madras HC directed CBSE, MCI and Ministry of Health to respond to the petition filed against the non-uniformity in the exam. CBSE rejected the allegation that the question papers in vernacular languages such as Gujarati were easier than English medium.
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Earlier, the petitioners claimed that CBSE did not maintain uniformity in preparing the question papers. They indicated that the question paper in Tamil medium was easier than the English medium. On the other hand, CBSE responded saying that the questions in the vernacular and English medium had been set at easy, average and tough levels. Various experts had moderated the question paper, and the issue of one question being tougher than the other did not arise.
CBSE also indicated that only 8-10% of students took the examination in vernacular languages, and around 90% students appeared for NEET examination in English medium. Based on the medium option given by the students during the registration process, CBSE set different question papers to avoid leakage, particularly in regional languages.
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CBSE pointed that NEET is a single entrance examination or the admission to UG medical courses, and not a single paper test. CBSE also clarified that it will not delay the results further. The board will approach Supreme Court against the interim stay on the declaration of results by high Court of Madras.
On June 6, 2017, the court also sought the English translation of Marathi, Hindi and Gujarati question papers of NEET.