NEET-UG paper leak row: Several members of NSUI, Congress' students wing, barged inside the office of the National Testing Agency (NTA) office building in Delhi on Thursday and locked the place from inside over the alleged irregularities in NEET-UG medical entrance exams. The central exam body is currently under scrutiny over the NEET-UG row over allegations of alleged irregularities in the conduct of the exam.
National Students Union of India (NSUI) members stormed into the testing agency's office in Okhla, chanting "Shut down NTA". Visuals from the scene showed scores of its members raising slogans and marching inside the building of the NTA.
The NTA office lock has been unlocked, and NSUI workers have departed. Police presence remains significant at the NTA office.
According to the Delhi Police, a case is registered under section 186/ 353/ 452/ 342/34 against NSUI workers for barging into the NTA office during a protest against the NEET issue.
What is NEET-UG controversy?
The NEET-UG 2024 exam was conducted on May 5 and its results were declared on June 4, ahead of its scheduled announcement date of June 14. Protests were held alleging irregularities and paper leaks as the results showed that as many as 67 students had topped the exam with a perfect score of 720. Petitions have been filed in courts by students seeking a re-test. The Supreme Court has allowed re-test of over 1,500 students who were awarded "grace marks. The re-exam took place across centres in Chandigarh, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, and Meghalaya on June 23.
On June 13, the NTA informed the Supreme Court that the scorecards of 1563 candidates who were awarded "grace marks" in the NEET-UG 2024 exam would be cancelled and these candidates would have an option to reappear for the exam on June 23, the results of which will be declared before June 30, or forgo the compensatory marks given for the loss of time.
NTA under criticism over alleged irregularities in exams
The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducted the NEET-UG exams, is facing criticism over alleged irregularities in the exams. This resulted in several protests across the country with protestors and political parties demanding to disband the NTA. An unprecedented 67 candidates achieved a perfect score of 720 marks out of 720, which added to the concerns.
The NTA office lock has been unlocked, and NSUI workers have departed. Police presence remains significant at the NTA office.
The Ministry of Education said it has constituted a high-level committee of experts to make recommendations on reforms in the mechanism of the examination process, improvements in data security protocols and the functioning of the NTA. The 7-member committee, led by ISRO former chairman Dr K Radhakrishnan, will submit its report to the ministry in the next two months.
The CBI is conducting a comprehensive investigation into the entire gamut of alleged irregularities, including conspiracy, cheating, impersonation, breach of trust and destruction of evidence by candidates, institutes and middlemen on the request of the ministry of education.
Also Read: CBI makes first arrests in NEET-UG paper leak case, two held from Bihar's Patna
