Lucknow, June 24: In the wake of a controversy surrounding the NEET-UG medical entrance exam, the Uttar Pradesh government has blacklisted Gujarat-based Edutest Solutions following a significant paper leak in the UP Police Constable Recruitment exam held in February. The security deposit of the company has also been confiscated.
The recruitment exam, conducted on February 17 and 18 for over sixty thousand constable posts, saw participation from 48 lakh out of 50 lakh applicants. The exam was canceled after the paper leak was confirmed, prompting the Yogi Adityanath administration to announce a re-examination within six months. The investigation has led to the arrest of over 300 individuals.
Edutest Solutions, responsible for conducting the exam, has become a focal point of political controversy. The UP Special Task Force (STF), assigned to investigate the case, reported that Edutest’s owner, Vineet Arya, fled to the United States to evade legal action. Despite four notices from the STF, Arya has not appeared before the investigators.
Edutest Solutions, which claims to have a robust client base and extensive experience in conducting exams nationwide, is now under scrutiny. The company boasts ISO 9001, ISO 27001, and CMMI Level 5 accreditations and significant clients across multiple states and sectors.
Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav has criticized the UP government for contracting the Gujarat-based firm, suggesting that the administration acted only after the owner fled. Yadav called for the government to release the FIR against Edutest and to take decisive action against the firm and its owner. He emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the integrity of all companies operating in UP and accused the government of potential corruption in awarding contracts to dubious firms.
The paper leak scandal has raised concerns about the future of the 60 lakh youths affected by the canceled exam and underscored the need for stringent measures to ensure the integrity of public examinations.
