JEE (Main) key row: NTA reviews chemistry errors flagged by students, urges them to wait
Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com 13.04.2026
New Delhi : Allegations of errors in the JEE (Main) answer key have again put the spotlight on the National Testing Agency (NTA), with the testing body stepping in early to review complaints and pause challenge payments for a disputed paper.
The agency said it has reviewed the provisional answer keys of JEE (Main) 2026 Session 2 and made them available online, while acknowledging concerns over the April 5, Shift 2 chemistry paper.
“Reports regarding discrepancies...are under verification,” it said, advising candidates not to pay challenge fees until further clarification. The provisional key and response sheets were released on Saturday, with the challenge window open from April 11 to 13 at ₹200 per question. However, social media quickly saw a surge in complaints, with candidates and parents alleging “gross mistakes” and claiming multiple incorrect answers in chemistry.
A widely shared post urged NTA to recheck the key, arguing that it was “practically impossible” for students to challenge a large number of questions while preparing for other exams. Faculty members also flagged concerns, with one Delhi-based govt college teacher writing to authorities citing “major error” and student distress. In one complaint shared with officials, a parent claimed at least 11 answers were incorrect, warning that such errors could impact high-performing candidates, including those scoring above 99 percentile in earlier sessions.
Responding publicly, NTA director general Abhishek Singh said he would personally have the paper reviewed by experts. “Given the large number of comments... I will get it checked,” he posted, promising an update within a day. Answer key discrepancies have been a recurring issue for NTA in recent years, often leading to court cases, re-evaluations, and in some instances, bonus marks. Previous editions of JEE (Main) and other national tests have seen multiple questions dropped or revised after challenges, fuelling criticism over quality control. This time, however, the agency’s early acknowledgment marks a departure from its typically reactive approach, even as student anxiety remains high.
‘RECHECK THE KEY’: Answer key discrepancies have been a recurring issue for NTA in recent years, often leading to court cases
No comments:
Post a Comment