The Education Ministry announced the formation of a high-level committee of experts to recommend reforms in the mechanism of the examination process, improvements in data protocols, and the functioning of the NTA. The Supreme Court has tagged the fresh pleas along with pending petitions of NEET and posted them for hearing on July 8.
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NEW DELHI: In response to the escalating controversy surrounding the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak, the Education Ministry has announced the formation of a high-level committee to scrutinize the functioning and transparency of the National Testing Agency (NTA).
This seven-member panel, led by former ISRO chief Dr. K Radhakrishnan, will convene on Monday and is expected to submit its report to the Education Ministry within the next two months.
The move comes amid severe backlash over irregularities in the medical entrance exam, prompting the Centre to replace NTA Director General Subodh Singh with retired IAS officer Pradeep Singh Kharola. This decision aims to restore confidence in the examination process and address systemic issues within the NTA.
On Saturday, the Education Ministry stated that the expert committee would recommend reforms to enhance the examination mechanism, improve data protocols, and ensure the NTA’s efficient functioning. This initiative follows widespread criticism after 67 students achieved perfect scores of 720 out of 720, raising suspicions of malpractice.
The NEET-UG retest conducted on Sunday saw a turnout of only 813 out of 1,563 eligible candidates across six centres in four states and a Union Territory. The retest was necessitated after the NTA retracted grace marks initially awarded due to delays in the exam’s start at centres in Meghalaya, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and Chandigarh.
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, addressing the issue on Thursday, ruled out the cancellation of the NEET exams, emphasizing the government’s commitment to protecting the careers of the many students who had rightfully cleared the exam despite isolated incidents of malpractice.
“The government cannot jeopardize the careers of lakhs of students who cleared the exam rightfully due to isolated instances of malpractices,”
-he stated.
This year’s NEET-UG, conducted on May 5 and with results declared on June 4, involved around 24 lakh candidates. The controversy began with reports of paper leaks originating from Bihar and subsequently from Godhra in Gujarat.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has since registered a criminal case and formed special teams to investigate these irregularities.
The CBI’s FIR highlighted ‘isolated incidents’ of malpractice in several states during the May 5 exam. In contrast, the NTA has maintained that its website and all associated web portals are secure, dismissing allegations of compromised security as ‘wrong and misleading.’
In light of the ongoing investigation, 63 candidates nationwide have been debarred due to malpractices, including 17 from Bihar and 30 from centres in Godhra. The Bihar government has handed over the case to the CBI, with the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) expected to transfer all updated case records to the agency.
“The CBI team is expected soon in Patna to take over the investigation of the case,”
-stated EOU DIG Nayyar Hasnain Khan.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has expressed its appreciation for the government’s swift response to the NEET UG examination controversies.
“Indian Medical Association (HQs) congratulate PM Narendra Modi, Union HM Amit Shah, Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, for their prompt response to our concerns regarding the NEET UG Examination controversies.”
-IMA
“We extend our gratitude to the Ministry of Education for transferring the investigation of the ‘irregularities’ in the NEET UG examination to the CBI for a thorough probe. We are also thankful to the Government for removing the Director General of the NTA,”
–stated the IMA.
The committee’s findings and recommendations are anticipated to bring significant changes to the examination process, aiming to prevent future irregularities and restore trust in one of India’s most crucial entrance exams.
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