NEET Controversies and UGC-NET Cancellation Spark Protests and Political Uproar

Delhi: In light of recent examination controversies, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Govind Jaiswal, addressed multiple issues surrounding the NEET examination. “In NEET, there were several issues. One was the ‘grace mark’ issue. Another, it is alleged that something happened in Bihar, that is under investigation. Third, there was an allegation from Gujarat about some malpractice. These are three different kinds of issues,” Jaiswal said. He assured that the grace mark issue has been resolved and confirmed that the Economic Offence Wing is investigating the alleged leak in Bihar, with the National Testing Agency (NTA) providing all requested information & action will be taken after proper investigation. According to the reports,

a confession statement presented to the Patna Police in the NEET exam case, the student alleged that he had received the question paper one day before the exam.

The controversy has extended to the UGC-NET exam, which was recently cancelled due to suspected security breaches. This has prompted significant political and public response.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore criticized the government, stating, “Paper leaks have become a routine in this government. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan must take responsibility. Mr Modi cannot run away from it. We will take up this issue in the Parliament and fight for the youth of the country.”

Adding to the turmoil, members of the All India Students Association (AISA) staged a protest outside the Ministry of Education. They demanded the re-conduct of NEET, the disbanding of the NTA, and strict action against those involved in the malpractices. A delegation from AISA also submitted a memorandum to the ministry outlining their demands.

It is pertinent to mention that in the NEET 2024 exam, a record-breaking over 23 lakh students registered to take the test, showcasing a significant increase in participation from previous years. But this exam which was conducted by NTA came under controversy over some issues leading to protests & political uproar.