Amid widespread allegations of irregularities in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-Undergraduate) exams, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has launched a scathing attack on the BJP government, accusing it of “attacking the dreams of the youth as soon as it took oath.” The NEET-UG exam, held on May 5 and conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) across 4,750 centers for approximately 24 lakh students, has come under intense scrutiny due to claims of paper leaks and the dubious awarding of grace marks. Concerns have been heightened by the fact that an unprecedented 67 students achieved a perfect score of 720, raising questions about the integrity of the examination process.
Taking to her official X handle on Friday, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra did not hold back in her criticism of the government and the Education Minister, stating, “As soon as the new BJP government took oath, it again started attacking the dreams of the youth. The arrogant response of the Education Minister (Dharmendra Pradhan) on the irregularities in the NEET exam results completely ignores the cries of 24 lakh students and their parents. Does the Education Minister not see the facts available in the public domain?”
Gandhi’s condemnation of the government did not stop there. She went on to question the motivations behind the alleged negligence towards the youths and their families, saying, “The question is, whom does the government want to save in the system by ignoring lakhs of youth and their parents? Shouldn’t the dreams of the youth stop being sacrificed at the altar of this corrupt examination system?”
She further emphasized that it is the government’s duty to address these complaints earnestly and take appropriate action instead of disregarding the concerns of students and parents. Gandhi added, “The BJP government should abandon its ego and think seriously about the future of the youth and take measures to curb corruption in examinations.”
Meanwhile, in a recent development, the NTA informed the Supreme Court on Thursday that the scorecards of 1,563 candidates who received “grace marks” in the NEET-UG exam will be invalidated, offering these candidates the option to reappear for the exam on June 23, with results to be declared before June 30. The NTA conveyed that a committee has been established to review the results of these candidates who were awarded grace marks to compensate for the loss of time they experienced during the NEET-UG exam.
“The Committee has decided to cancel the scorecards of 1,563 NEET-UG 2024 candidates who were given grace marks and these students will be given the option to take a re-test,” the NTA stated.
. “The exam will be conducted on June 23 and the results will be declared before June 30,” it added. The Supreme Court also made it clear that it would not halt the NEET-UG 2024 counselling process. “Counselling will go on and we will not stop it. If the exam goes, then everything goes in totality, so there is nothing to fear,” remarked the Supreme Court. The petitions will be reviewed by the Supreme Court on July 8.
This turmoil has led to several petitions being filed in the apex court, seeking orders to recall the NEET-UG 2024 results and to conduct the examination again, citing alleged paper leakage and malpractices during the test held on May 5.
The NEET-UG examination, orchestrated by the NTA, is a pivotal gateway for student admissions into MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other related courses in both government and private institutions nationwide. The credibility of this cornerstone examination now hangs in the balance amidst these serious allegations, and the political ramifications are significant, as the government’s handling of the situation continues to come under fire from various corners.
Amidst this backdrop of controversy and political sparring, the future of numerous students remains uncertain, with their academic aspirations in jeopardy. As the NTA and the judicial system strive to restore faith in the examination process, the unfolding events will be closely monitored by students, parents, and educational institutions alike. The stakes are high, as the integrity of one of India’s most critical educational assessments and the trust of millions of students lie in the balance.
