Modi govt seeks NTA reforms after NEET scam
Following the resolution of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) controversies, significant reforms are expected within the National Testing Agency (NTA). Government sources indicate that extensive changes in the agency’s operations and examination administration are under consideration, with the establishment of a high-level committee to provide recommendations.
The NEET-UG 2024 results, announced on June 4, faced widespread criticism from students and parents. Legal challenges have been filed, citing three main issues: the provision of grace marks to some students, allegations of a leaked question paper and suspected irregularities at specific examination centres. Many have called for an investigation and a retake of the exam.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan emphasised on Sunday, Jne 16 that the “harshest punishment” would be meted out to those found guilty in the NEET-UG 2024 “scam”, while assuring students and parents that the government is taking the matter seriously.
As of November 2023, the NTA registered over 1.23 crore candidates, making it one of the largest examination-conducting bodies globally, second only to China’s Gaokao, which registered 1.29 crore candidates in 2023.
In 2024, over 24 lakh candidates registered for the NEET-UG, 14.7 lakh for JEE (Main) and more than 13.4 lakh for the CUET-UG 2024.
Besides these major entrance examinations for various undergraduate courses, the NTA also conducts other exams such as the National Council of Hotel Management Joint Entrance Exam (NCHM-JEE), Admission Test for Diploma in Sports Coaching (ATDSC) of the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Graduate Aptitude Test – Biotechnology (GAT-B), Common Management Admission Test (CMAT), Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT), the All India Sainik School Entrance Examination (AISSEE), Swayam examinations and others.
