In the wake of allegations of irregularities in two significant national-level examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), the government has established a committee to restructure the organization. This committee, led by former ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan, is actively seeking input from the public to enhance the NTA’s functioning and address concerns raised by students and parents. The Union education ministry announced on Friday that suggestions from all stakeholders, particularly parents and students, are welcome and can be submitted until July 7th through a dedicated website created for this purpose.
The controversy surrounding the NTA stems from two major examinations: the UGC-National Eligibility Test (NET) and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG). The NET, designed to determine eligibility for teaching positions in colleges and universities, was canceled in June after the question paper was leaked hours before the exam. The NEET-UG, which grants admission to highly competitive undergraduate medical courses, has also been plagued by accusations of question paper leaks and the awarding of ‘grace marks’ to numerous students who experienced time constraints. This year, an unprecedented 67 NEET-UG aspirants achieved a perfect score of 720 marks, raising further concerns about fairness and transparency.
Following these controversies, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched an investigation into the irregularities and has made several arrests in Bihar related to the alleged question paper leaks.
The restructuring committee, comprised of seven members, has been tasked with proposing reforms to the examination process, including improvements to data security protocols. The committee has been given a two-month timeframe to submit its report to the central government.
In response to the opposition’s concerns raised in parliament regarding the NTA and the NEET, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan affirmed the government’s commitment to addressing the issues. He stated that the government is prepared to discuss the matters and welcome suggestions, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining parliamentary decorum. Pradhan reassured students and parents that strict action will be taken against those involved in any wrongdoing. The government is committed to ensuring a fair and transparent examination process for all students.
