After the Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to order a re-examination of the controversial NEET-UG 2024 exam, citing lack of material to justify systematic breach of sanctity, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan welcomed the apex court's decision saying "The truth has prevailed". He also announced that the National Testing Agency (NTA) will release the final results in two days.
Pradhan stated said that the Centre had been saying from the beginning that there has not been any large-scale breach and that the students are government's priority.
"The truth has prevailed. We welcome the decision of the Supreme Court. We have been saying this from the beginning that our priority is students of this country. Government's priority has always been to see that there should be no tampering with students' future... From the last 2-2.5 months, the government's stand has been that there has not been any large-scale breach," he said.
"Today, the Supreme Court has upheld that," the Education minister added.
NTA To Announce Final Results Within 2 Days
The Education Minister announced that the NTA will release the final results of NEET-UG 2024 within two days. He also explained that the exam's merit list will be revised as per the Supreme Court's observations.
As per the previous results, the number of toppers were 61. However, after the top court's decision, the 44 students who were granted full marks for answering one of the two questions correctly, will not be given marks for that now.
Therefore, as per the revised tally, the total number of toppers will be 17.
'Judgement Will Open Eyes Of Those Who Rubbished Indian Examination System'
Dharmendra Pradhan also took to his X handle to remark on the Supreme Court's judgement on the NEET-UG exam.
"Today’s verdict on NEET-UG will put speculations to rest and provide relief to lakhs of hard working and honest students. Grateful to Hon’ble Supreme Court for the landmark verdict that upholds the interest of students," he tweeted.
Pradhan further wrote that the judgement will "open the eyes of those who rubbished the Indian examination system and grabbed this opportunity for vested interests, scoring political brownies and stoking 'civil unrest and anarchy'."
He also asked LoP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to apologise for "playing with the sentiments of lakhs of students and their parents" and for trying to "gain political mileage out of it."
'Committed To Zero-Error, Transparent, Tamper-Free Examination System'
Commenting on the NEET-UG irregularities and the steps taken by the government after the row erupted, Pradhan said: "For us, zero tolerance of any kind of breach is our priority when it comes to exams for students - be it for higher education or jobs. So, Modi Government has brought into effect a strict law like The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act."
He further stressed that the Centre promised the Supreme Court that the NDA-led government is "committed to having a tamper-free, transparent, and zero-error examination system".
"Taking this commitment forward, we announced a high-level committee for a complete revamp of NTA. That committee is working dedicately...The committee has collected expert opinions and studied various models...They will submit a report soon," he said, informing about the work being carried out by the seven-member committee.
The government had formed a seven-menber committe last month, headed by former ISRO chairman, Dr K Radhakrishan to look into the functioning of the National Testing Agency.
Adding that the Cetral Bureau of Investigation was undertaking its job, the Education Minister said: "I would like to assure the youth and students of the country that we are committed to making NTA error-free. In this process, all those involved in these irregularities will not be spared. Strict legal action will be taken."
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'Opposition Should Apologise To Students, Parents For Misleading, Provoking Them'
The Education Minister also criticised the opposition leaders for calling the country's examination system "rubbish," and asked them to apologise to the students and parents for "misleading and provoking them and creating confusion".
"...When the NEET matter came to light, Opposition's role became clear after Supreme Court's judgement today. The attitude that the Lok Sabha LoP had adopted until yesterday, invalidating the examination system of the country and calling it "rubbish" proves his mental status...Criticising this, Rahul Gandhi has criticised India. Misleading the students of the country, creating confusion and provoking them for social tensions were all planned part of his politics. By rejecting the electoral results in the country, anarchy and civil unrest have become a part of his strategy. I appeal to him and all people of Opposition who were involved in such irresponsible actions - they should apologise to the students, youth and parents of the country," he said.
"You have hurt the country, attempted to create anarchy in the country, conspired to have civil unrest in the country. The country will not forgive you. Political rivalry can be different, but students belong to everyone," Pradhan added.
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