NTA will be strengthened, will not cancel NEET, says Union Minister

NEW DELHI: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday said that the NEET exam will not be cancelled for the time being. The minister also said that the students' concerns related to the examination would be resolved soon. He said that transparency will be ensured in the National Testing Agency (NTA) as per the directions of the high-powered committee. The minister came up with the explanation in the wake of the situation where the UGC NET exam was cancelled in the name of irregularities.

"Strict action will be taken against the culprits. The interests of the students will be protected. A high-level committee has been appointed to ensure the transparency of NTA. Recommendations will be expected from that high-level committee to further improve NTA, its structure, functioning, examination process, transparency and data security protocol. We are committed to zero error exam," the minister said.

"What happened in Bihar is an isolated incident. We cannot pretend that we have not seen the efforts of lakhs of students. The future of students should not be jeopardized in the name of an isolated incident. The Centre has sought information from the Bihar government on the revelations related to the NEET exam. We have received some information from them. The incident will be investigated. Action will be taken against the culprits," he added.

The NEET exam was held on May 5. Anurag Yadav, who was arrested in Bihar, told the police that he received the question paper the day before this. He said that his uncle Sikandar Prasad Yadavendu bought this question paper for Rs 30 lakhs.

BJP leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sinha alleged that it was RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's personal secretary Pritam Kumar who arranged accommodation for Yadavendu.

Meanwhile, students of SFI, AISF and AISA organizations protested in front of Shastri Bhavan, which houses the Ministry of Education, protesting against the irregularities in NEET and NET exams. Police arrested the activists and removed them from the spot.

NET question paper in Telegram
The question paper of the UGC NET exam held on June 18 had circulated in Telegram and WhatsApp groups from the 16th. The Education Minister confirmed that the question paper found on the Dark net matched with the original one. The exam was cancelled after the Cyber ​​Crime Unit under the Ministry of Home Affairs reported the matter.