Still grappling with NEET controversy, the cancellation of UGC-NET exams on Wednesday has brought serious troubles for the Narendra Modi Government which has just started its third tenure and a Special Session of the Parliament scheduled next week.
With the ruling NDA on shaky numbers, Opposition leaders on Thursday launched an attack on the National Testing Agency (NTA) and accused the agency as well as the Union Government of destroying the future of students who appeared for these exams. They said the matter will be raised in Special Session of the Parliament next week.
Both the exams are conducted by Union Education Ministry’s National Testing Agency (NTA) and the paper leaks and cancellations have led to protest by aspirants, students, parents with simultaneous attack by the Opposition parties and judicial interference to streamline the issues.
A day after the UGC-NET was cancelled, Education Ministry officials on Thursday said no complaints were received about the exam but a suo motu action was taken on the basis of inputs available with them to protect students' interest and a fresh exams will be announced.
Education Ministry Joint Secretary Govind Jaiswal said the details of the inputs cannot be shared as the matter has been referred to the CBI and is currently under investigation.
"No complaints were received but the inputs we received from agencies indicated that the integrity of the exam has been compromised. The action was taken suo motu to safeguard interests of the students," he said.
While the Congress-led Opposition continues to mount attack on the BJP-led NDA Government, the partners of the NDA, JD(U), alleged a direct link of the RJD in the NEET paper leaks as the probe begins in the case by Nitish Kumar the Government. Bihar police have arrested 13 people in connection with the case. They are currently lodged in a Patna Jail.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the Government over the alleged irregularities in both entrances and said Modi has "psychologically collapsed" post-elections and will struggle to run a Government like this.
"It is being said Modi stopped the Ukraine-Russia war and Israel-Gaza war, but he is either not able to stop exam paper leaks or doesn't want to," the former Congress chief said.
Responding to the Congress’ statement, BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said Government is fully alert and sensitive over NEET exam.
“The Centre is determined, and won't let any injustice happen to lakhs of students... strict action will be taken against those who are responsible for this... Rahul has nothing to do with the future of lakhs of students, he just wants to play his politics on this topic. In Rajasthan, paper leak happened but Rahul did not utter a word on it,” the BJP said.
UGC-NET is a test to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for the award of junior research fellowship, for appointment as assistant professors and admission to PhD in Indian universities and colleges.
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.
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha claimed that the arrested prime accused in the NEET "paper leak" is linked to officials associated with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, and demanded an investigation into it.
“The official associated with Yadav used to arrange accommodation for Sikandar at guest houses in Patna and other places. I have details of messages which the official had sent to the persons concerned for arranging accommodation for Sikandar,” the deputy chief minister said.
On the other hand, Supreme Court on Thursday decided to examine pleas questioning the Centre’s NTA chairman Prof. Pradeep Kumar Joshi to the high-powered committee which recommended a re-test for 1563 undergraduate National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) candidates who were given grace marks.
The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Centre, the NTA and others on petitions, including those seeking the scrapping of NEET-UG 2024 exam and a court-monitored probe into the alleged irregularities in the medical entrance test. The top court also stayed further proceedings on some pleas on NEET (Undergraduate)-2024 examination pending before different high courts in the country.
