The NEET-PG exam for admission to postgraduate medical programs is anticipated to take occur this month. The declaration was made during a meeting between representatives from the government’s anti-cybercrime commission and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The question paper would be created two hours in advance. The NEET-PG test was originally set to begin on June 23, but it was postponed only hours before because of rumors of abnormalities, including leaked papers, in the undergraduate exam.
Government Emphasizes Student Interests in Exam Conduct
“Undertake a thorough assessment of the robustness of processes of NEET-PG, conducted by the National Board of Examinations for medical students,” the government has said. It said that the choice was taken with the interests of the students in mind. A committee was tasked by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan with looking into the concerns.
Previous Breaches and Ministerial Actions
Following student fears that test questions had been sold on the darknet, the education minister revealed last month that there may have been breaches in the NEET-UG and UGC-NET exams. The National Testing Agency (NTA), which administers both examinations, has come under scrutiny as a result of this disclosure, which also resulted in the firing of SK Singh, the agency’s chief.
The UGC-NET retake is set for July 25–27. The original exam was canceled two days later.
Criticism of NTA
Parents, opposition groups, and students have all criticized the NTA. The National Students Union of India, a youth branch of the Congress party, which has charged the BJP of “destroying” the educational system, surprised a mob in the Okhla neighborhood of Delhi last week, according to the story.
The Supreme Court has also sent a notice to the NTA, and a response is expected by July 8.
CBI Investigations
In the meantime, investigations into the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) case are being carried out by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This case has led to several arrests and raids on coaching centers, school grounds, and other sites around the country.
CBI detained a journalist from a small Hindi daily and the principal of a school in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, during raids at seven different places in Gujarat last week. Six FIRs have been filed by the CBI in all, one of which was lodged at the time the matter was turned over by the government. Three instances are related to Bihar, while one each to Rajasthan and Maharashtra are covered by the other five FIRs.
Backlash
Much political debate has been generated by the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) dispute. The ruling BJP has been criticized by the non-aligned opposition parties including Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Congress-led INDIA alliance.
NEET-UG row in 2024
Following the announcement of the May 5 NEET exam results—which were taken by about 2.4 million students—the dispute broke out last month. An abnormally high percentage of perfect scores—67 pupils, including six from one coaching center—were cause for concern since they attained the highest possible score of 720. Concerns were also expressed over the 1,563 students who received “grace marks,” which the NTA said was not required by the exam procedure.
Security Measures
The government has said that there would be more security precautions for upcoming tests in view of the previous scandals and security breaches. This entails more rigorous oversight of testing locations, improved cybersecurity measures, and thorough screening of exam-related personnel. Restoring the examination system’s credibility and making sure that every student has an equitable and transparent procedure are still the major priorities. Building confidence in the country’s examination organizations and preventing future irregularities are the goals of the continuing investigations and changes.
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