NEET-UG 2024 Row — 'If Big Officials Of NTA Found Guilty, They Won't Be Spared': Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan

NEET-UG 2024 Row: Education Minister Pradhan vowed strict action against National Testing Agency (NTA) officials for irregularities in the NEET-UG 2024 exam if any senior names are found guilty.

File Photo of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan ( Image Source :PTI )

NEET-UG 2024 Row: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday assured stringent action against officials of the National Testing Agency (NTA) if they are found guilty of irregularities in the conduct of the 2024 National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) (NEET-UG). Addressing the concerns of students and parents, Pradhan emphasised the need for significant improvements within the NTA.

"On the recommendations of the Supreme Court, the order has been given for a re-test of 1,563 candidates. Some irregularities have come to light in two places. I assure students and parents that the government has taken this seriously," Pradhan told news agency ANI. He added, "Even if the big officials of the NTA are found guilty, they will not be spared. A lot of improvement is required in NTA. The government is concerned about this, no culprit will be spared, they will get the harshest punishment."

#WATCH | Sambalpur, Odisha: On the NEET issue, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan says, "On the recommendations of Supreme Court, the order has been given for re-test of 1,563 candidates...Some irregularities have come to light in two places. I assure students and… pic.twitter.com/yrdvdAcn4g

— ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2024

NEET-UG 2024 Row: NTA Orders Probe Into 'Grace Marks' Given To 1,563 Candidates With Re-Exam On June 23

The Supreme Court was informed by the NTA on Thursday that the scorecards of 1,563 candidates who received "grace marks" in the NEET-UG exam will be cancelled. These candidates will be allowed to reappear for the exam on June 23, with results to be declared before June 30. The NTA stated that a committee has been set up to review the results of these candidates who were awarded grace marks to compensate for the loss of time during the NEET-UG examination.

"The Committee has decided to cancel the scorecards of 1563 NEET-UG 2024 candidates who were given grace marks and these students will be given the option to take a re-test," NTA said. "The exam will be conducted on June 23 and the results will be declared before June 30," it added.

The issue has sparked protests from various student organisations. Members of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), the students wing of the Congress, held a protest in Delhi on Saturday. Similarly, the Kerala Students Union (KSU) staged a protest in Kerala, urging authorities to investigate the alleged irregularities surrounding the NEET-UG exam.