NEET UG Exam Controversy: The central government, which is facing criticism over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, has removed the Director General (NTA DG) of the National Testing Agency (NTA) Subodh Kumar Singh from his post. On Saturday, the government handed over the task of investigating the irregularities in the medical entrance exam NEET-UG to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The Union Education Minister has said that no person responsible for or involved in any irregularities in the NEET-UG exam will be spared. The Education Ministry has also formed a 7-member committee headed by former ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan to review the functioning of the NTA and recommend exam reforms. Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry canceled the NEET-PG entrance exam.
A new petition has also been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to the CBI as well as the ED to investigate the alleged irregularities in NEET-UG. The petition of 10 students who took the exam also sought directions to the Bihar Police to expedite the investigation into the matter and submit a report before the Supreme Court. The country’s top court had earlier sought responses from the Center, NTA and others on several petitions, including those seeking cancellation of NEET-UG 2024 exam and a court-monitored investigation. The apex court had also stayed further proceedings on similar petitions pending in various high courts.
Committee formed to improve the examination process
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that we are in favor of transparent, error-free examinations. A high-level committee headed by former ISRO chief has been formed to improve the examination process. Strict action has been taken against the officials and the matter has been handed over to the CBI. The medical entrance exam NEET UG was held on May 5 this year at 4,750 centers and 23.33 lakh candidates appeared in it. The exam results were to be declared on June 14, but were declared on June 4.
Also read: NEET NET Exam Controversy: High level committee formed to improve the examination process, will submit report to the government in 2 months
These are included in the committee
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the formation of a high-level committee of experts is the first step in a series of steps taken to improve the efficiency of the examination process, eliminate all possible irregularities, strengthen data security protocols and reform the NTA. The committee includes former AIIMS Delhi Director Randeep Guleria, Hyderabad Central University Vice Chancellor BJ Rao and Professor Emeritus K Ramamurthy of the Department of Civil Engineering at IIT Madras. People Strong co-founder and Karmayogi Bharat Board member Pankaj Bansal, IIT Delhi’s Dean of Student Affairs Aditya Mittal and Education Ministry Joint Secretary Govind Jaiswal are also among its members.
The central government, which is facing criticism over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, removed NTA DG Subodh Kumar Singh from the post. According to officials, Subodh Kumar Singh has been placed on “compulsory waiting” in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) till further orders. Pradeep Singh Kharola, Chairman and Managing Director of India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO), has been given additional charge of NTA till the appointment of a regular officer.
According to sources, the Ministry of Education may stick to its stand that there is no need to cancel the NEET-UG entrance exam based on the evidence collected by the Bihar Police. The police argue that the investigation shows that the alleged paper leak in Patna was a “local matter”. An official said in this regard that Bihar Police detained six more people from Jharkhand’s Deoghar district on Friday night. Last month, the Economic Offenses Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police arrested 13 people, including the main suspect Sikandar Yadavendu, in connection with the alleged paper leak. The EOU has received reference question papers of NEET-UG 2024 from NTA, which will be compared with the papers recovered from a flat during a search in Patna last month. PTI Bhasha sources gave this information on Saturday. The police said that it is also exploring the possibility of conducting “narco test” and “brain mapping” of the accused in this case. Sources also indicated that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) may investigate the money laundering aspect of alleged irregularities in the medical entrance exam conducted by the NTA in May.
Also read: Credit Card: What is the right thing to do if you are not using a credit card? Take these steps keeping these things in mind
These exams including NEET-PG have been cancelled
The Union Health Ministry also announced the postponement of the NEET-PG entrance exam a night before as a precautionary measure in view of recent allegations on the credibility of some competitive exams. The move comes a day after the June session of CSIR and UGC NET was cancelled. The joint CSIR-UGC-NET exam is conducted to determine eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor posts and for PhD in science courses. However, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan denied any leak of the CSIR-NET paper and said that the exam has been postponed for logistical reasons.
Anti paper leak law implemented in the country
The central government has also enacted a stringent law aimed at curbing malpractices and irregularities in competitive exams, with a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 1 crore for offenders. Nearly four months after President Draupadi Murmu gave assent to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, the Personnel Ministry on Friday night notified the implementation of the law. However, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge termed it a “sham” and said the BJP cannot escape the charge of “promoting corruption and education mafia”. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said exams were being cancelled every day due to the “complete incompetence” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and “people around him”.
What is the update in the NEET paper leak case that surfaced from Godhra
On the alleged irregularities in Godhra, Gujarat, the minister said that the case in Godhra was not of paper leak but of organized cheating and 30 students were denied the exam. He said that the case in Gujarat is not of leak. Police took precautionary action, some telephone conversations have been traced. He said that 30 students found trying to cheat were denied the exam. Apart from this, 63 other students from across the country were denied the exam for using unfair means. The central government is facing criticism over alleged irregularities in competitive exams NEET and NET. UGC-NET was canceled a day after it was conducted after reports of compromise in the sanctity of the exam were received.
Earlier in the day, the education minister had said that the “top leadership” of the National Testing Agency was under question over alleged irregularities in the competitive exams NEET and NET. The minister said that he is the guardian of the interests of the students and he has to keep this in mind before taking any step. Pradhan had said earlier this week that he cannot endanger the careers of lakhs of examinees who have passed the exam in the right manner. When asked about any investigation into the role of NTA, Pradhan said that I have already said that there has been an institutional failure. I have taken responsibility. The top leadership of NTA is under the scanner of many questions. But I have to protect the interests of the students first. I am the guardian of their interests. Earlier this week, the ministry had sought a report from the Economic Offenses Unit of Bihar Police, which is investigating the allegations of NEET paper leak. He said that the report has not been received yet. But it is certain that no person involved or responsible for any irregularity will be spared.