Today, On 22nd July, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, addressing the Lok Sabha, stated that the government has nothing to hide regarding the NEET-UG issue and has presented all facts to the Supreme Court. He emphasized that the House is open to any kind of discussion on the matter.
New Delhi: During the Budget Session in the Lok Sabha on Monday, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan addressed inquiries about the NEET-UG paper leak issue. He asserted that the central government has nothing to hide and has presented all relevant information to the Supreme Court.
The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET)-UG paper leak case is currently being heard by a bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, with a verdict expected today.
In response to Congress MP Manickam Tagore‘s query. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stated,
“The government has nothing to hide. We have submitted all the facts to the Supreme Court, which is currently hearing the case. Let’s wait for the court’s instructions. This House is open for any kind of discussion,”
Pradhan emphasized that, apart from a “singular incident” in Patna during the recent NEET-UG held on May 5, there has been no evidence of paper leaks in the last seven years.
He remarked,
“There has been no evidence of paper leaks in the last seven years. This case is now before the Supreme Court, and all facts have been presented. The Chief Justice of India is overseeing the case,”
Since the National Testing Agency (NTA) established, over 240 exams have been conducted, with more than 5 crore students applying and over 4.5 crore successfully participating, Pradhan added.
When questioned about resigning due to the alleged irregularities, he responded,
“I serve at the pleasure of my leader, PM Modi. Our government will be accountable when questions of responsibility arise. Regarding anomalies and malpractices, out of 4700 cases, only one incident occurred in Patna, and the CBI and police are addressing it.”
Pradhan reiterated,
“The matter is currently before the Supreme Court, with the Chief Justice of India personally presiding over the case,”
Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav remarked that the current government could set a record for paper leaks. In response, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan pointed out that the previous Congress-led UPA government endorsed the centralization process and that the current criticisms were politically driven.
He stated,
“Following the Supreme Court’s instructions and guidance, this nationwide single examination pattern has been successfully implemented. Due to differing opinions, the Supreme Court mandated that this centralized exam pattern must be maintained. The court also instructed that the candidate list for the exam be published on the website. This list has been publicly accessible for the past three days. Candidates from Kerala have also performed well; does that imply malpractice there as well?”
On July 18, the Supreme Court directed the NTA to publish the NEET-UG 2024 results on their website while ensuring candidate anonymity. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, accused the Education Minister of blaming everyone but himself for the issue.
Gandhi said,
“It’s clear to the entire country that there’s a serious problem with our examination system, affecting not just NEET but all major exams. The minister has blamed everyone but himself. He doesn’t seem to grasp the core issue,”
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla concluded the discussion by emphasizing that the matter is currently in court and that blame games would harm the Indian education system.
Read Also: NEET-UG 2024 Row| “Government Needs to Give Up All-India Examination : P. Chidambaram
He remarked,
“This will impact the Indian education system. The agency is investigating, and the matter is in court. We should avoid blame games,”
In conclusion, Dharmendra Pradhan’s affirmation of government transparency regarding the NEET-UG process in the Lok Sabha highlights the administration’s commitment to maintaining clarity and openness in educational affairs. By addressing concerns and ensuring that all stakeholders are kept informed, the government aims to build trust and credibility within the academic community.