New Delhi: The Union Health Minister announced that the much-anticipated National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2024 exam results will be released in the next two weeks. According to data shared earlier this year, 1,08,980 MBBS seats are available for candidates.

Earlier this year, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya informed the Lok Sabha that India has 1,08,940 MBBS seats and 70,645 postgraduate medical seats. Medical Dialogues previously reported that data from the Union Health Minister indicated an 82% increase in the number of medical colleges, an 112% increase in MBBS seats, and a 127% increase in postgraduate seats since 2014.

"The government has increased the number of medical colleges and, subsequently, MBBS seats. Medical colleges have risen by 82%, from 387 before 2014 to 706 now. Additionally, MBBS seats have increased by 112%, from 51,348 before 2014 to 1,08,940 now, and postgraduate seats have grown by 127%, from 31,185 before 2014 to 70,645," the Minister stated in a written statement.

The NEET UG examination is a centralized common entrance test in India for admissions to various medical courses such as MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BSMS, BUMS, and BHMS. Conducted annually by the National Testing Agency (NTA), it is an offline, pen-and-paper-based examination. This year, the exam was held on May 5, 2024.

The NTA received around 24 lakh registrations for NEET UG 2024 for admission to medical, dental, and allied health courses. According to the NTA's official report, approximately 23.3 lakh candidates out of the 24 lakh registered appeared for the exam.

This year, NEET-UG recorded the highest number of candidates for any competitive exam in India and likely became the world's largest single-sitting competitive exam. As per the earlier announcement by the NTA, the authority responsible for conducting the NEET-UG exam, this year's results are scheduled to be declared on June 14, 2024. Meanwhile, an alleged paper leak scam has raised questions about the integrity of the NEET UG 2024 examination. Around 13 people, including four examinees, were arrested in connection with the matter. Patna police sources claimed that the NEET-UG question papers and their answers were provided to about 20 aspirants a day before the exam on May 5, 2024.

The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police, which took over the investigation, revealed that brokers involved in the NEET paper leak scam charged between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 50 lakh from each medical aspirant in exchange for providing the NEET UG 2024 question paper ahead of the examination. Recently, a PIL was filed before the Patna High Court demanding the cancellation of the exam and seeking an investigation of the paper leak scam by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The Supreme Court is also considering a similar plea regarding the NEET paper leak scam. However, the Apex Court bench refused to grant a stay on the exam results