Why Did Govt Decide Against Cancelling NEET-UG Despite Paper Leak? Education Minister Clarifies

The Education Minister said that the reports of the leak were mere "isolated incidents". It was localised and involved only a few students from Bihar.

File photo of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan ( Image Source :PTI Images )

The government chose not to cancel the NEET-UG medical entrance exam despite the huge controversy and an ongoing investigation into a paper leak. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan clarified that the leak affected a limited number of students, contrasting it with broader leaks in 2004 and 2015 that led to exam cancellations. He stated that canceling the exam would unfairly impact lakhs of students who rightfully cleared it. 

Minister Pradhan also mentioned that the Supreme Court is hearing the case, and its decision will be final. 

The government maintains that the reports of the leak were mere "isolated incidents". It was localised and involved only a few students from Bihar. A student and three other individuals have been arrested and are being questioned in Bihar.   

Pradhan also said that the UGC-NET exam question paper leak was an "institutional failure" of the NTA, but he stressed that there was no need to cancel the exam. The Education Ministry has formed a high-level panel to review the functioning of the National Testing Agency. Click here to learn all about this development. 

"It is unfair to hold hostage the career of those candidates who have rightfully cleared the exam because of some isolated incidents of malpractice," Pradhan said at a press conference on Thursday. 

"We are in constant touch with the Bihar Police. We have sought a report from them. Once we have it, we will decide the future course of action. I take full responsibility and anomalies in the system will be rectified. Let us have faith in our systems and no irregularities or malpractices will be tolerated by the government," the minister had said. 

He further urged the Opposition parties not to politicise the issue and assured that strict action would be taken against those found guilty, including "top" NTA officials. 

What Is The NEET-UG Controversy? 

The controversy began when 67 students scored a perfect 720 mark in the NEET-UG exam. The National Testing Agency (NTA) explained that grace marks were given to some students due to wrong questions and delays in distributing the question paper. 

Around 24 lakh students took the NEET-UG 2024 exam on May 5, and results were released ahead of schedule on June 4. The question paper leak and the awarding of grace marks to over 1,500 students sparked protests and legal actions, including cases filed in various courts. The Supreme Court criticised the NTA's handling of the issue. 

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