NEET row: Centre orders CBI probe, sets up high-level panel for exam reforms; Opposition slams government

The government is committed to ensuring the sanctity of examinations and protecting the interest of students, the official said, adding any individual and organisation found to be involved in irregularities will face the strictest action.

The Union Health Ministry said on Saturday that it has decided to postpone the NEET-PG entrance examination, scheduled to be held on 23 June, as a “precautionary measure” in the wake of recent allegations on the integrity of certain competitive exams.

On Friday, the June edition of the Joint Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (CSIR-UGC-NET) was postponed due to unavoidable circumstances and logistic issues. On Wednesday, UGC-NET was cancelled following inputs that the exam’s integrity was compromised.

Also Read: Health Ministry postpones NEET-PG examination hours before test

Rahul Gandhi hits out at PM

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday over the postponement of the NEET-PG, saying it was yet “another unfortunate example that the education system has been ruined”.

In a post in Hindi on ‘X’, Gandhi said, “Now NEET-PG is also postponed. This is another unfortunate example of the education system that has been ruined under the rule of Narendra Modi.”

Under the BJP’s rule, instead of building their careers by studying, students are forced to fight the government to save their future, he said.

“Now it is clear — Modi, who used to silently watch the spectacle every time — is completely helpless in front of the paper leak racket and education mafia,” the former Congress chief said.

“Narendra Modi’s incompetent government is the biggest threat to the future of students. We have to save the future of the country from it,” he added.

अब NEET PG भी स्थगित!

यह नरेंद्र मोदी के राज में बर्बाद हो चुकी शिक्षा व्यवस्था का एक और दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण उदाहरण है।

भाजपा राज में छात्र अपना करियर बनाने के लिए ‘पढ़ाई’ नहीं, अपना भविष्य बचाने के लिए सरकार से ‘लड़ाई’ लड़ने को मजबूर है।

अब यह स्पष्ट है – हर बार चुप-चाप तमाशा…

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 22, 2024

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday claimed that exam cancellations are happening in the country every day because of the “total incompetence” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the “people around him”.

“No day is complete without news of the cancellation of an exam because of the total incompetence of the non-biological PM and the people around him. The latest exam to be put off is NEET-PG, which was scheduled to be held tomorrow,” Ramesh said in a post on ‘X’.

No day is complete without news of cancellation of an exam because of the total incompetence of the non- biological PM and the people around him. The latest exam to be put off is NEET-PG, which was scheduled to be held tomorrow

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 22, 2024

Also Read: Congress’s nation-wide protest against NEET-UG and its four demands

The alleged irregularities

The NEET-UG 2024 was held on 5 May across 4,750 centres and around 24 lakh candidates appeared. The results were expected to be declared on 14 June but were announced on 4 June.

The allegations of irregularities have led to protests in several cities, litigation and sparring between rival political parties.

A fresh plea was filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to the CBI and the ED to investigate the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG.

The petition, filed by 10 students who had appeared for the exam, has also sought a direction to Bihar Police to expedite the investigation in the case and file a report before the apex court.

The top court had earlier sought responses from the Centre, the NTA and others on a slew of petitions, including those seeking scrapping of the NEET-UG 2024 exam and a court-monitored probe.

The apex court had also stayed further proceedings on similar pleas pending before different high courts.

As many as 67 students scored a perfect 720, unprecedented in the NTA’s history, with six from a centre in Haryana’s Faridabad figuring in the list, raising suspicions about irregularities.

There was also controversy over grace marks awarded to students to make up for the loss of time at six centres. The Centre later told the apex court that the grace marks were being scrapped and these students would be given an option of a retest.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will on Sunday conduct the retest for these 1,563 candidates.

The NEET-UG examination is conducted by the NTA for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.

(With PTI inputs)

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