New Delhi/IBNS: The National Testing Agency (NTA), the exam body, has reiterated that there was "no systemic failure" amid the uproar over the paper leak allegations brought in the NEET-UG 2024, media reports said.

The NTA told the Supreme Court in a written submission as quoted by NDTV, "The allegations of the Petitioners that there has been a systemic failure as candidates have obtained unprecedented higher marks only in the top range of mark interval are misconceived and thus denied."

The exam body made the claim amid the ongoing hearing of the case in the Supreme Court.

The central government earlier told the top court that it found "no abnormalities" in the examination.

Earlier, the counselling for the NEET was deferred until further notice.

The controversy arose when 67 students achieved perfect scores of 720 in the NEET-UG exam.

The NTA said this happened as some candidates were awarded grace marks due to a faulty question and logistical delays in paper distribution at some centers.

However, a Bihar Police investigation revealed that the exam paper had been leaked to a select group of candidates.

The NEET-UG exam, taken by nearly 24 lakh aspiring medical students, was held on May 5, and the results were released on June 4.

Despite the NTA's efforts to manage the situation, allegations of a widespread leak continued with protests and legal actions nationwide.