NEET UG 2024 row: High-level committee to study functioning of NTA, says Dharmendra Pradhan

NEW DELHI: Amid the NEET fiasco, the Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan said a high-level committee will be constituted to study the structure, functioning of National Testing Agency (NTA). On UGC NET cancellation, the minister said “we will ensure quality and transparency whenever NET exam is held again.”

Speaking at a press conference today at the National Media centre, the minister said: “The government aims for a zero-error examination. The committee will comprise technocrats, scientists, education experts, psychologists. The committee will be notified soon.”

On Rahul Gandhi's statement on NEET, UGC NET paper leak, he urged the public to not look at it from a political angle and said “We are ready for all improvement. We will not spare those found guilty.” He also appealed to students to trust the government and not fall for misleading news.

He also pointed out that the ministry is awaiting more information from Bihar Police’s Economic Offences Unit (EOU). Earlier, the Bihar Police notified the confession report in which the accused admitted that the NEET question paper 2024 was leaked a day before and they made the children memorize it in return for Rs 30-32 lakh.

“In the context of the NEET exam, we are in touch with the Bihar government. We are receiving some information from Patna. Patna Police are investigating and a detailed report will be submitted by them. Following credible information, strict action will be taken against the guilty,” he added.

UGC NET paper leaked on Darknet

"Specific question paper is there on the Darknet. This input has been given by home ministry's prestigious organisation I4C. When we compared the document with our original question paper, we came to the conclusion that this is a case of paper leak," Pradhan on UGC NET cancellation.

"When you are organising such a huge prestigious examination for the future Assistant Professors and PhD students, you have to maintain the quality. I can't say that I am sharing a nice information with you. With pain, we are taking the responsibility. We have to rectify the system. Very soon we will have to come out with dates," he said.

Out of 24,06,079 registered candidates, 23,33,297 appeared in the NEET UG exam. As per the NEET results 2024, which was declared on the same day when general elections were announced, an unprecedented number of 67 candidates got grace marks. Later, the NEET results of these candidates were cancelled and the NTA announced to conduct re-exam on June 23 as per the Supreme Court order.

Massive protest against NEET

Several student groups’ have been staging protests across the country against the alleged NEET paper leak, ‘unfair’ awarding of grace marks and other irregularities. Following the cancellation of UGC NET 2024 exam by the education ministry, the demand for scrapping NTA increased. Dharmendra Pradhan has also been facing significant criticism and backlash after the integrity of competitive exams have been questioned and compromised.

Controversy around NEET UG exam 2024 began nearly a month before the exam date when rumours of NEET paper leak surfaced on social media. Although, the NTA denied the allegations and several students highlighted the grace marks provision, which was notified after the result declaration. A number of petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court and high courts across the country. The next NEET Supreme Court hearing is scheduled on July 8.