NEET, UGC-NET Row: Government To Probe NTA For Lapses, Education Minister Takes Responsibility

Facing criticism for the discrepancies in NEET and the UGC-NET exam cancellation, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced the formation of a high-level committee to probe irregularities in the National Testing Agency and vowed action.

"The government is going to form a high-level committee. Recommendations will be expected from that high-level committee to further improve NTA, its structure, functioning, examination process, transparency and data security protocol," Pradhan said in a media briefing on Thursday.

The committee will consist of technocrats, scientists, education administrators, academicians and scientists.

Over 30 lakh candidates appeared for the exams, both of which were conducted by the NTA. The minister's remarks came on a day when students held protests in various parts of the country, including outside Pradhan's home in Delhi.

"Some irregularities have come to the notice of the government. We take responsibility for it. I would like to request the students very politely not to believe in rumours," Pradhan said, pointing out that the government had brought in a law to prevent the use of unfair means in public examinations.

The minister said the government is in touch with the Bihar government and seeking information from Patna police. "Following credible information, strict action will be taken against the guilty... One isolated incident should not affect lakhs of students who took the exam sincerely." The Bihar reference was to reports of NEET papers being leaked there.

The NTA has formed a high-powered committee to address the grievances of the candidates over the 2024 National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test under graduate results.

Earlier today, the Supreme Court stayed proceedings in petitions filed in Rajasthan, Calcutta and Bombay High Courts, concerning the alleged paper leak and discrepancies in the NEET-UG 2024 exam held on May 5 this year. Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti issued this order while considering a transfer petition filed by the NTA, which seeks to move these cases from the High Courts to the apex court.

After the NEET UG 2024 results were declared on June 4, widespread allegations of irregularities and demands for a re-examination echoed across the country. Over 24 lakh candidates across 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 overseas venues, took the examination.

On Wednesday, the UGC NET exam was scrapped by the centre following inputs received from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit, over concerns that the integrity of the examination may have been compromised. A retest was declared, the date of which is yet to be announced.

(With inputs from ANI)