New Delhi, June 21: Under intense scrutiny over irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced on Thursday the formation of a high-level committee to investigate the National Testing Agency (NTA). The announcement comes in the wake of two NEET aspirants in Bihar confessing to paying for question papers, an incident Pradhan labeled as “isolated.”
Pradhan emphasized that canceling the NEET exam was not an option due to the aspirations of numerous meritorious students. “This is an institutional failure of the NTA, and I take moral responsibility for the failure,” he stated.
The minister also addressed the recent cancellation of the UGC-NET entrance exams after evidence of leaked question papers surfaced on the dark web and Telegram channels. Unlike the NET exams, the NEET exam leaks are under investigation by the Bihar Police, with no Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe initiated yet.
“We are in touch with the Bihar government and receiving information from Patna Police,” Pradhan said. “A detailed report will be submitted to the Centre, and strict action will be taken against those found guilty.”
The minister assured that the committee examining the NTA will include technocrats, scientists, education administrators, academicians, and psychologists to ensure a “zero-error examination process.” He highlighted the differences between NEET and NET exams, explaining why one was canceled and the other was not. The NET exam was scrapped following credible information from the Home Ministry, while the NEET exam remains crucial for students’ futures.
Pradhan addressed concerns over the high number of NEET toppers this year, attributing it to a focus on class 12 syllabus questions to support students from rural areas. “During COVID-19, NCERT and CBSE reduced the syllabus, making it a challenge to reduce suicides among aspirants. The questions were set at a class 12 level to help students who generally struggle to compete,” he explained.
He also mentioned the shift from CBD to OMR mode in the NET exams, stating that both methods are well-established and tested.
Nationwide protests have erupted over the exam irregularities, and the matter has reached the courts over issues such as paper leaks and the awarding of grace marks. The education community awaits further developments as the high-level committee begins its investigation.
