Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for allegedly jeopardizing the dreams of the youth by mishandling the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-Undergraduate) exams. Vadra expressed her disappointment with the Education Minister’s response to the irregularities in the NEET exam results, emphasizing that it disregards the concerns of 24 lakh students and their parents. She questioned whether the Education Minister is turning a blind eye to the evidence that is publicly available.
The examination, which took place on May 5 under the supervision of the National Testing Agency (NTA) at 4,750 centers for almost 24 lakh students, is currently under scrutiny due to allegations of leaked papers and controversial grace marks. The fact that an unusually high number, 67 students, achieved a perfect score of 720 is causing concern.
The government is being accused of neglecting the younger generation. The question arises, who is the government trying to protect within the system by disregarding the concerns of lakhs of young individuals and their parents? Shouldn’t the aspirations of the youth be prioritized over this corrupt examination system?
In her statement, Gandhi stressed the importance of the government taking complaints from students and parents seriously and addressing them promptly. She mentioned that the BJP government should set aside its pride and focus on the future of the youth by implementing measures to combat corruption in examinations.
On the other hand, former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and Congress leader Digvijay Singh called for an investigation into the irregularities surrounding the top medical examination, suggesting that the entire exam should be annulled.
Singh insisted that the exam should be canceled entirely and rescheduled promptly, with a thorough and unbiased inquiry conducted under the new legislation passed by the Parliament. He also advocated for severe punishment for those found guilty, emphasizing the seriousness of the NEET-UG “scam”.
The NEET (UG)-2024 scam is an extremely grave matter. It bears a striking resemblance to the infamous Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh, but on a national scale. This not only raises doubts about the competence of the National Examination Agency (NTA), but also exposes its flaws and corruption. Despite the passage of The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill 2024 in Parliament and the implementation of stringent laws, the widespread scam orchestrated by the NTA during a significant examination like NEET, which determines admission to medical colleges, calls into question the credibility of the government and the examination agency as a whole.
In light of these concerns, it is imperative for the government to seriously consider the following points. Firstly, how was the NEET question paper leaked in Patna on May 4, a day before the exam on May 5, 2024? Furthermore, why did the government fail to take any action even after an FIR was filed against those apprehended in Patna on May 6? The registration date for this exam was initially set from February 9, 2024, to March 9, 2024, but it was later extended to March 16. Therefore, what prompted the NTA to reopen the online registration window for a single day on April 10?
Additionally, on May 6, a newspaper in Uttar Pradesh published news that students had allegedly paid a staggering ₹60 crore to obtain the NEET question paper. Despite these reports, how did the NTA issue a press note on the same day, dismissing these claims as baseless? Moreover, when the exam results are announced in June 2024, how did 67 students manage to achieve a perfect score of 720 out of 720? It is worth noting that in previous years, only 2 students achieved this feat in 2020, 3 in 2021, 0 in 2022, and again 2 in 2023. The sudden increase of 5625% in the number of toppers securing All India Rank-1 compared to the previous year is undeniably unexpected.
These alarming circumstances demand a thorough investigation and a serious response from the government. The integrity of the NEET (UG)-2024 examination and the reputation of the NTA must be restored to ensure fairness and transparency in the admission process for medical colleges.
The NTA has informed the Supreme Court that it will invalidate the scorecards of 1563 NEET-UG candidates who were awarded grace marks. These candidates will have the opportunity to retake the exam on June 23, with results expected before June 30.
Additionally, the NTA informed Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that a committee has been established to reassess the results of these candidates who received additional marks due to exam difficulties. The committee has decided to cancel the scorecards of 1563 NEET-UG 2024 candidates who were granted grace marks, offering them the chance to take a re-test. The exam is scheduled for June 23, and results will be announced before June 30.
Singh criticized the central government by pointing out that students from Odisha, Karnataka, and Jharkhand opted for Gujarat as an exam center. He also alleged that the exam paper was leaked on Telegram a day before the scheduled test. Despite clear evidence, why did the NTA refuse to acknowledge any wrongdoing? Why did the authorities ignore the reports of students allegedly paying bribes of ₹20 to 25 lakhs through an international education consultant in Gujarat? Furthermore, why were Hindi medium students given English medium question papers at an exam center in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan? The Supreme Court has questioned the integrity of NEET and has ordered a re-examination for 1563 students who were awarded grace marks on June 23, 2024. Unfortunately, this decision will not benefit those students who were unable to seek legal recourse.