Govt postpones NEET-PG, sets up committee to ensure fair conduct of exams – All you need to know

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has announced the postponement of the NEET-PG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate) exam, a night before the scheduled date of the exam. This decision follows recent allegations questioning the integrity of the competitions.

Transparent, tamper-proof and error-free reviews are a commitment.

The establishment of the high-level expert committee is the first in a series of steps aimed at improving the efficiency of the review process, ending all possible malpractices, strengthening data security protocols … https://t.co/LDUe4udfXY

-Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) June 22, 2024

The Health Ministry announced the postponement on June 22, citing precautionary measures to safeguard the sanctity of the examination process and the interests of students. The move follows concerns raised over alleged irregularities and violations in the conduct of NEET-UG and other competitive exams. A new date for the NEET-PG exam has not been announced yet.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education constituted a seven-member committee, chaired by Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, former Chairman of ISRO, to address systemic issues and recommend reforms to improve transparency, efficiency and the security of exams organized by National Testing. Agency (NTA).

The committee will review end-to-end processes and suggest measures to improve efficiency, minimize potential violations and strengthen the NTA’s standard operating procedures (SOPs). It will evaluate current data security protocols to recommend improvements, ensuring protection against leaks and breaches.

The committee will also assess the organizational structure of the NTA to align it with recommended reforms, defining clear roles and responsibilities and improving grievance mechanisms. They should submit the report to the ministry within two months.

In another development, the government has handed over the probe into irregularities in NEET-UG to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The education ministry is handing over the matter of alleged irregularities in the NEET (UG) 2024 exam to the CBI for further investigation. pic.twitter.com/KO95a5a8nD

– Ministry of Education (@EduMinOfIndia) June 22, 2024

The ministry also announced that NTA Director General Subodh Kumar Singh has been placed on “compulsory standby” at the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). Indian Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) Chairman and Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola has been given additional charge.