NEET-PG exam
The NEET-PG exam, crucial for admission to postgraduate medical courses, is set to take place this month, as per sources briefed by on Tuesday. This decision follows a meeting between the Home Ministry and officials from the government’s anti-cybercrime body. Notably, the question paper will be prepared two hours earlier than usual, as per the sources.
Originally scheduled for June 23, the NEET-PG exam was abruptly postponed just before its commencement amidst controversies surrounding leaked papers and other irregularities related to the undergraduate NEET exam.
In response to the outcry and protests from lakhs of aspiring medical students affected by the cancellation, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan promptly initiated a committee to investigate the grievances.
The cancellation of the NEET-PG exam, alongside issues with the NEET-UG and UGC-NET tests, which determine professorial appointments and research fellowships, sparked widespread public concern. Allegations of questions being sold on the darknet further spotlighted the National Testing Agency (NTA), which oversees these examinations, leading to the dismissal of its chief, SK Singh.
As a result of the controversies, a re-test for the NET exam is scheduled for July 25-27. However, the NTA has faced severe criticism from students, parents, and opposition parties. Recently, its office in Delhi’s Okhla area was briefly occupied by a mob from the National Students Union of India, alleging the BJP government’s mishandling of the education system.
Meanwhile, investigations into the NEET-UG scandal, conducted by the CBI, have resulted in multiple arrests and raids across the country, targeting coaching centers and educational institutions implicated in the leaks.
The NEET issue has escalated into a major political controversy, with opposition parties, including the Congress-led INDIA bloc and others like Naveen Patnaik’s BJD, accusing the ruling BJP of mishandling the situation. In Parliament, leaders such as Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have demanded discussions on the matter, coinciding with debates over the Motion of Thanks to President Droupadi Murmu’s address.
The controversy erupted after the NEET results were announced, highlighting concerns over unusually high perfect scores and the award of ‘grace marks’ to students, which the NTA clarified as not being standard practice.
In summary, the NEET saga has not only affected aspiring medical professionals but has also become a focal point of national debate and political contention, reflecting broader issues within India’s educational assessment and governance framework.
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