Shubhan Sengupta and his family heaved a sigh of relief as he could retain his score of full marks in the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) for admissions to Under Graduate course of health sciences, after the revaluation result was declared on Friday. The number of students who scored full marks and secured All India Rank (AIR) 1 has gone down from 61 to 17. Among 17, Shubhan is the only topper from Vidarbha. On June 4, 2024, the National Testing Agency (NTA) that had conducted the NEET, declared its result, then the score of Shubhan Sengupta read 720/720. After the revaluation ordered by Supreme Court, his result remained the same. the Sengupta family has rejoiced over Shubhan’s fantastic achievement.

 

“I did not expect full marks in the NEET, but I was confident that I would score above 700. When I checked the answer keys, I realised, I haven’t committed a single mistake. My happiness knew no bounds when I found myself among the top scorers,” said Shubhan. Dr Shantanu Sengupta, noted cardiologist and Vice-President of Indian Academy of Echocardiography and noted gynaecologist Dr Rajasi Sengupta are the proud parents of Shubhan. Belonging to a family of doctors, Shubhan’s grandparents also were medicos, while his uncle Partho also is a noted cardiologist. Shubhan had made up his mind early in life to become doctor. Obviously he knew that he had to study tirelessly to achieve his goal. Accordingly, he pursued his goal. A student of Bhavan’s Bhagawandas Purohit Vidya Mandir, Civil Lines, Shubhan had scored 98.6 in Class X. He started preparing for the NEET when he was in Class XI (St Paul School). Shubhan and the like-minded students had to undergo trauma of uncertainty. The result was out but admission process was in limbo. Parents, students were not keen as to how the fiasco did take place.

 

They wanted to know the future course of action. Many students who appeared for the NEET (UG) and came with flying colours were experiencing anxiety whether the Government would cancel the exam. “Why should our wards suffer, if a handful of students have committed a crime,” questioned a parent with an anguish. Students have prepared for four years for the examination and then they appear with a particular mindset, write the examination and crack it. Those who appeared in this year’s NEET feel that it would be difficult for them to appear again with the same tempo and score the marks. The period between June 4, 2024 (the result was declared first) and July 26, 2024 (when the result of revaluation was out) was full of stress for the students and parents. Dr Sengupta said, “We made it a point that Shubhan gets engaged in discussions with his friends. At home, too, we did not discuss much on the issue but kept talking with him.” “I and my friends we discussed the issued and we counseled ourselves. We convinced each other that we have to keep quiet and wait for the result. Our family and friends supported us fully. I was aware that I had to be ready to face any situation. Had there been re-test I would have wrote it and come with flying colours. Now, bygone is bygone. I shall get admission in All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi which is the best institute that imparts medical education,” a firm Shubhan said. An exhilarated Dr Shantanu Sengupta expressed, “My both children Shubhan and Shahan (now in Class X) are sincere and I and my wife we never had to push them for study. They do it on their own. For us, Shubhan’s achievement made our dream a reality. I am learning from him, the way he maintained himself throughout this period of trouble.” 

 

 

According to Shubhan Sengupta, the NEET should be held on-line. “Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) for the admissions to courses of technical education is conducted on-line and we never heard any issue created in JEE. On the same line NEET too should be made on-line,” he suggested Supporting Shubhan, a Physics teacher Panini Telang also felt that no separate criteria should be applied to two entrance tests. “If we conduct JEE on-line, why can’t we apply the same mode for NEET? We will have to conduct it for some more days as the number of students writing the examination is more. The issue of paper leakage ends. Transparancy can be introduced. There should be perfect method to calculate percentile. Right now the student scoring 60 per cent also can be treated as 100 per centile. This aspect should be streamlined. This is the responsibility of NTA to let students know that due to normalisation, the score has reduced and the percentile has come down. This communication is totally absent,” explained Panini Telang.