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Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday said that the top leadership of the National Testing Agency is under investigation over alleged irregularities in the competitive exams NEET and NET. However, he denied any paper leak in the CSIR-UGC NET exam, which was postponed a day earlier.
The minister said he is the guardian of the students’ interests and he has to keep this in mind before taking any step. Amid the ongoing controversy over irregularities in the medical entrance exam NEET, Pradhan had said earlier this week that he cannot jeopardise the careers of lakhs of candidates who have cleared the exam in the right manner.
The joint Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and UGC-NET June exam was postponed on Friday night. The joint CSIR-UGC-NET is an exam conducted to determine eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor and admission to PhD in Science courses.
“There was no leak in the CSIR-UGC NET, it was postponed due to logistical issues. There is also a re-examination of 1,563 NEET candidates tomorrow. This decision was taken for the smooth conduct of the exam at all places,” Pradhan told reporters.
When asked about the probe into the role of NTA, Pradhan said, “I have already said that it is an institutional failure. I have taken responsibility. The top leadership of NTA is facing many questions. But I have to protect the interests of the students first. I am the guardian of their interests.”
Earlier this week, the ministry had sought a report from the Economic Offences Wing of Bihar Police, which is investigating the allegations of paper leak in NEET.
“The report has not been received yet… but it is certain that no one involved or responsible for any irregularities will be spared,” he said.
On the irregularities in Godhra, Gujarat, the minister said that the case in Godhra was not of paper leak but of organised cheating and 30 students were deprived of the examination.
He said, “The Gujarat case is not a leak… Police took precautionary action, some telephone conversations were intercepted. There were cheating attempts and 30 students found to be involved were debarred from the exam. These students are in addition to the 63 students across the country who were debarred from NEET for using unfair means.”
The central government has been under fire for alleged irregularities in the competitive exams NEET and NET. The question paper of the medical entrance exam was allegedly leaked, which is being investigated by the Bihar Police, while the UGC-NET was cancelled a day later after reports of compromise in the sanctity of the exam were received. The CBI is investigating the matter.
The Education Ministry on Saturday notified a seven-member panel headed by former ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan to ensure transparent, smooth and fair conduct of examinations through the NTA.
The Centre on Friday night enacted a stringent law aimed at curbing malpractices and irregularities in competitive exams and provides for a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh. Provision of Rs 1 crore for the offenders.
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