Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Warns of Severe Accountability for NTA Officials Amid NEET 2024 Controversy.
New Delhi: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has acknowledged shortcomings in the National Testing Agency (NTA), which administers the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for medical college admissions.
VIDEO | Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) met NEET aspirants and their parents, assuring them of justice.
(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/EeNOr6wg8k
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Speaking to ANI, Pradhan assured that NTA officials implicated in irregularities surrounding the NEET 2024 (Undergraduate) exams will be held accountable.
“In response to irregularities detected at two locations, the Supreme Court has ordered a retest for 1,563 candidates. The government is treating this matter with utmost seriousness,” Pradhan stated, addressing concerns raised by students and parents.
He further emphasized, “Even high-ranking NTA officials found responsible will not be spared. There is a critical need for significant improvements within NTA, and the government is committed to ensuring accountability with severe penalties.”
Recently, the NTA informed the Supreme Court of its decision to annul grace marks awarded to 1,563 candidates in the NEET-UG exam, offering them the option to retake the test on June 23. The court was informed that results of the re-test would be available before June 30.
Following the declaration of NEET-UG results on June 4, which saw participation from 24 lakh students, allegations of exam paper leaks surfaced. Student organizations protested various issues including distribution delays, torn OMR sheets, and discrepancies in question papers, heightening concerns over the fairness of the examination process.
In response to criticisms, Pradhan urged against panic, urging stakeholders to await the outcome of ongoing investigations and the Supreme Court’s forthcoming decision on July 8. He reiterated the government’s commitment to transparency and addressing the NEET controversy responsibly.
