NEET Controversy: Govt Hands Over Paper Leak Case To CBI

Centre has handed over the probe into alleged irregularities in NEET-UG exam 2024 to the Central Bureau of Investigation, seeking a comprehensive investigation.

Students during a protest over the NEET-UG and UGC-NET examinations issue, in New Delhi. (File Photo)

Source : PTI

NEET-UG Row: Centre has handed over the probe into alleged irregularities in NEET-UG exam 2024 to the Central Bureau of Investigation, seeking a comprehensive investigation.

"National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted NEET(UG) Examination on 5th May 2024 in OMR (Pen and paper) mode. Certain cases of alleged irregularities / cheating / impersonation / malpractices have been reported," an official statement by the government read. 

The statement further said that the Ministry of Education, Government of India, following a review, decided to entrust the matter to the CBI for comprehensive investigation, to ensure transparency on the conduct of the examination process.

"Central Government has also enacted the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, to prevent unfair means in the public examinations and to provide for matter connected therewith or incidental thereto. Government is committed to ensure the sanctity of examinations and protect the interest of students," the statement read.

Centre stressed that any individual or organisation that is found to be involved in the matter will face "strictest action".

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Clarifies Why Govt Didn't Cancel NEET-UG

Despite the huge controversy amid the ongoing probe into the NEET-UG paper leak, the government chose not to cancel the medical entrance examination.

Clarifying government's decision, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the paper leak affected a limited number of students, comparing it with the leaks in 2004 and 2015, which led to exam cancellations.

He said that cancelling the examination would be unfair to lakhs of students, who cleared it rightfully. 

The Education Minister also mentioned that the Supreme Court is hearing the case regarding the matter, and its decision will be final. 

Stressing that there was no need to cancel the exam, Pradhan called the UGC-NET exam question paper leak an "institutional failure" of the NTA. 

The Education Ministry has formed seven-member panel chaired by former ISRO chief K. Radhakrishnan, to review the functioning of the National Testing Agency.