In the NEET 2024 case, the Supreme Court acknowledged that the paper was indeed leaked. However, the court refused to annul the examination. In response to the irregularities found in NEET, the government has formed a high-level committee to bring extensive changes to the entire process. Despite the Supreme Court's decision, most students who appeared for NEET 2024 believe that this year's exam was marred by discrepancies at every level, and many undeserving candidates have secured merit positions and are now preparing to enter medical colleges. This unfortunate situation will only embolden the paper leak mafia.

To preserve the integrity of NEET in the coming years, the following changes are imperative:

1. Restricted Changes During Online Registration: Opportunities to change credentials and photos should only be provided under special circumstances.

2. Secure Paper Setting and Printing: The process should be made more secure and there should be proper security checks in printing presses.

3. Government Agency for Paper Transport: The transportation of exam papers should be managed by a government agency, not private courier companies.

4. Selection of Government Institutions as Exam Centers: Wherever possible, government institutions should be chosen as exam centers. If there are not enough centers, NEET should be conducted in shifts like JEE.

5.Duties Assigned to Government Employees: Responsibilities of city coordinators, center superintendents, and invigilators should only be given to serving government employees and officials, who should receive adequate training.

6. Provision of OMR Sheet Carbon Copies to Students: Carbon copy of OMR sheets should be provided to students after exam.

7. Marking of Unattempted Questions on OMR Sheets: There should be a 5th circle for every unattempted question so that there is no scope for OMR manipulation post exam.

8. Extra Precautions in Coaching Cities: All coaching cities should be considered highly sensitive and extra precautions should be taken.

9. Ban on Offline Classes and Mock Tests: Fifteen days before the exam, offline classes and mock tests at coaching institutes should be prohibited.

10. Transparent Examination and Result Process: The entire examination and result process should be transparent, and the results of all students should be uploaded on the website, just as it is done for the top 100 students.

11. Declaration of Center and City Results: This should be done every year as it was done this year.

12. Sharing of NEET Scores Alongside 12th Scores: NEET scores should be shared along with the student's 12th-grade scores.

13. Two-Phase NEET Exam: Similar to JEE, NEET should be conducted in two phases and the exam should be computer based.

While we couldn't deliver justice to the students affected by the NEET 2024 debacle, it is crucial to ensure that no student suffers such injustice in the future. If undeserving students continue to gain entry into medical colleges, it would not only be an injustice to deserving students but also a dangerous scenario for society, as these incompetent doctors would eventually be responsible for the country's healthcare system.