Approximately 3,200 candidates who initially passed the test had their papers rechecked due to suspicions of cheating.
MDCAT 2024: 50 candidates arrested for cheating exam using Bluetooth Devices. A cheating ring was busted in Quetta during the Medical College Admission Test (MDCAT 2024) after authorities received an intelligence tip-off from federal agencies.
The ring allegedly involved two facilitators, including a retired official from the Federal Public Service Commission in Islamabad, who helped 50 students cheat using Bluetooth devices.
These devices were sold to the students for 100,000 rupees each. Most of the arrested candidates were from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with many registering in Quetta specifically for this purpose.
The facilitators operating locally in Quetta were also apprehended. Further investigations into the cheating network are ongoing.
Moreover, this incident is part of a larger scandal surrounding the MDCAT in Pakistan. Reports of mismanagement emerged from Karachi and other parts of Sindh, prompting Dr. Sarosh Lodhi, Shaikh-ul-Jamia of NED University, to clarify that the institution is not responsible for the maladministration observed during the test.
The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) manages the test’s administration, security, and conduct.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, an additional 134 candidates were identified as suspected cheaters, bringing the total to 219 candidates caught using secret Bluetooth devices.
The provincial cabinet decided to re-conduct the MDCAT within a six-week timeframe, sparking protests from students and parents who passed the initial test.
Following the cheating scandal in the Medical College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2024, authorities took swift action.
Approximately 3,200 candidates who initially passed the test had their papers rechecked due to suspicions of cheating.
To investigate the matter further, Joint Investigation Teams (JITs) were formed in Karachi, Lahore, and Punjab, Pakistan.
It’s worth noting that the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has the authority to cancel the test if deemed necessary.
The PMDC has been working to ensure the integrity of the MDCAT exam, with measures in place to prevent cheating and ensure smooth conduct.
The council successfully conducted the MDCAT exam in 2023, with nearly 187,000 students appearing.
