Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan: NTA officials won't be spared

The NEET UG 2024 results, announced on June 4, faced widespread criticism from students and parents alike. Legal challenges were filed against the results, highlighting three main issues: the provision of grace marks to some students, claims of a leaked question paper, and suspected irregularities at particular exam centers. Numerous voices demanded an investigation and a retake of the exam. As a result, a four-member committee was formed to review the NEET UG 2024 outcomes. While compensatory marks have been scrapped by the Supreme Court on the basis of the panel’s recommendations and the option of re-test has been offered to those awarded grace marks, the other allegations will be reviewed by the Apex Court on July 8 this year.

Meanwhile, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Sunday in an interaction with news agency ANI that he had received information about irregularities at two locations in the NEET-UG 2024. "Some irregularities have come to light in two places. I assure students and parents that govt has taken this seriously. Even if big officials of NTA are found guilty, they will not be spared. A lot of improvement is required in NTA. The govt is concerned about this, no culprit will be spared, they will get the harshest punishment," Pradhan said.

"Govt. is working towards its resolution and reform. Keeping the cognisance of the (Supreme) court, specific action has been initiated. Everything is being done under supervision of the court," added the Union Education Minister.

The minister responded to opposition criticisms regarding alleged irregularities, inflated scores, and paper leaks in the medical entrance exam. Out of the 23 lakh candidates who took the exam, results were announced on May 5.

The NTA and the education ministry are investigating claims of a paper leak at several centers in Patna, which were reported by local police. The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) arrested 13 individuals, including four examinees and their family members, in connection with the incident. Government officials, however, stated that the number of candidates who passed from these centers was not substantial. To ensure fairness, two sets of papers are typically prepared, with the final version selected on the morning of the exam.

The minister also emphasized the government's commitment to complete transparency for a crucial exam like NEET. "The Supreme Court itself is keeping an eye on the matter. We will not let anything wrong happen ."

Earlier on Friday, Pradhan had indicated that scrapping the entire entrance examination was unlikely as the sanctity of the process could not be judged by alleged irregularities in a handful of centers. Some states with a large presence of a powerful lobby of education institutes have been opposing NEET and officials argued that coaching centers were fanning the controversy as the syllabus was aligned with Class 12, helping more students secure high marks.

Officials said of the 4,750 centers, concerns were expressed in the case of eight centers as less time was given in some of these centers, resulting in NTA giving grace marks.

(With inputs from ANI)

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