The NEET-PG exam is scheduled for this month, with question papers set to be prepared two hours before the test.
The NEET-PG exam, originally scheduled for June 23, was postponed just hours before its commencement due to controversies surrounding alleged irregularities, including leaked question papers, related to the undergraduate exam.
New Delhi: The NEET-PG exam, which determines admission to postgraduate medical courses, will now be conducted later this month, according to sources informed NDTV on Tuesday afternoon. This decision follows a meeting between the Home Ministry and officials from the government's anti-cybercrime unit. Sources indicate that the question paper will be prepared two hours earlier on the day of the exam.
Initially slated for June 23, the NEET-PG exam faced postponement shortly before its scheduled start amidst uproar over reported irregularities, including leaked papers, concerning the undergraduate exam.
The government subsequently announced a comprehensive review of the NEET-PG processes, administered by the National Board of Examinations, to ensure integrity and fairness in assessments for medical students. This decision was made in the best interest of the students affected.
The cancellation of the exam, which had attracted participation from thousands of aspiring medical professionals, sparked widespread protests, particularly among candidates who had traveled long distances to sit for the test.
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan promptly formed a committee to investigate the grievances raised by students.
The controversy surrounding the NEET-UG and UGC-NET exams, used for university professor appointments and research fellowships, respectively, intensified public scrutiny. Minister Pradhan acknowledged allegations from students that exam questions were being traded on the dark web, prompting action against SK Singh, the chief of the National Testing Agency (NTA), which oversees both exams.
The UGC-NET has now been rescheduled for July 25-27.
The NTA faced criticism from students, parents, activists, and opposition parties, culminating in a brief occupation of its Delhi office by the National Students Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Congress party. The Congress has been vocal in its criticism of the BJP-led government, accusing it of undermining the education system by canceling the exams.
The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the NTA, demanding a response by July 8.
Meanwhile, the CBI is actively investigating the NEET-UG case, leading to multiple arrests and raids on coaching centers, schools, and other premises across India. Recent raids in Gujarat and arrests in Jharkhand and elsewhere have resulted in six FIRs related to the case.
The NEET controversy has escalated into a major political issue, with opposition parties, including the Congress-led INDIA bloc and others like Naveen Patnaik's BJD, criticizing the ruling BJP. In Parliament, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have spearheaded calls for discussions, particularly during debates on the Motion of Thanks to President Droupadi Murmu's address.
The NEET exam, which saw nearly 24 lakh students appearing for the May 5 exam, became contentious following the declaration of results. Initial concerns were raised over an unusually high number of perfect scores, including 67 students achieving a maximum score of 720, with further scrutiny over the awarding of 'grace marks' to 1,563 students, a practice the NTA clarified was not part of standard exam protocol.