In recent years, the admission process for professional courses has seen a significant drop in cut-off marks, leading to a compromise in quality. Notably, even students who scored zero marks in exams are gaining entry into postgraduate medical courses. Similarly, national law universities are admitting students with ranks above 40,000, raising questions about the standards being upheld in these prestigious institutions.
The Supreme Court's Stand
In a significant move, the Supreme Court of India refused to lower the cut-off for the All India Bar Examination (AIBE). Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, heading the bench, emphasized that reducing the cut-off would lead to a decline in the quality of legal education. "If candidates can't score even the basic cut-off, how can they perform as lawyers?" the Chief Justice questioned, highlighting the importance of maintaining standards.
The Situation in National Law Universities
A circular from the consortium of national law universities in 2022 decided to invite five times the number of available seats for counseling. This move, intended to fill seats, has led to the admission of students with minimal marks, including those with scores as low as 10% through the NRI quota. This approach has sparked concerns about the erosion of quality in legal education.
NEET PG 2023: A Case in Point
The 2023 NEET PG exam saw a dramatic reduction in cut-off marks. Initially set at 291 marks, the cut-off was eventually reduced to zero. This meant that merely appearing for the exam was enough to secure admission into postgraduate medical courses, undermining the credibility of the examination process. As a result, students with zero marks are now enrolled in medical colleges, raising serious concerns about the future of medical education.
Declining Standards in NEET UG and NEET MDS
The trend of lowering cut-off marks is not limited to postgraduate courses. In 2020, the cut-off for NEET UG was reduced from 147 to 113 to fill dental seats. Similarly, in 2021, the cut-off was reduced from 138 to 122 for Ayush admissions. In NEET MDS 2023, the cut-off has been progressively lowered since 2021 to ensure seat fulfillment.
The NEET Super Specialty Scenario
The NEET Super Specialty exam, which had 4,243 seats in 2023, saw cut-offs reduced from 50 percentile in the first round to 20 percentile in the second round, and ultimately to zero percentile in the special round. Despite these reductions, many seats remained unfilled, highlighting the challenges in maintaining standards while ensuring seat occupancy.
Extending Beyond Medical and Law
The issue of declining standards is not confined to medical and law courses. In 2018, the Central Education Department directed a reduction in cut-off marks for JEE Advanced to double the number of eligible candidates for counseling. The eligibility marks were reduced from 35% to 25%, resulting in an increase in the number of students participating in the JoSAA counseling for IITs.
The lowering of cut-off marks to fill seats in professional courses is a worrying trend with potential long-term repercussions. As Maheshwar Peri, the founder-chairman of Careers360, points out, maintaining minimum quality standards is crucial to ensure the credibility and effectiveness of professional education in India. Without these standards, the future workforce may lack the necessary skills and knowledge, leading to negative outcomes for the country’s development.
While filling seats is important, it should not come at the cost of educational standards. Ensuring a balance between seat fulfillment and maintaining quality is essential for the long-term success of professional education in India.
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