NTA to hold retest of NEET-UG exam for 1,563 students today, two arrests made in Latur

India's National Testing Agency (NTA), embroiled in an exam controversy, will conduct a retest of NEET-UG examination for 1,563 aspirants across four states and a Union Territory on Sunday (Jun 23).

NEET-UG, or National Eligibility cum Entrance Test- Undergraduate, which is for admission to medical colleges, is scheduled to take place from 2 pm to 5:20 pm local time. As per media reports, officials from the NTA and the Education Ministry will be present at the examination centres. The NTA had earlier withdrawn grace marks to more these aspirants, that were given due to loss of time at six centres in Meghalaya, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Chandigarh.

NTA chief sacked

The NEET-UG exam held earlier this summer was marred by allegations of massive cheating, rigging and question paper leaks. The controversy led to the sacking of NTA chiefSubodh Kumar Singh on Saturday (Jun 22).Singh has been put on "compulsory wait" in the Department of Personnel and Training, while retired Indian Administration Service (IAS) officer Pradeep Singh Kharola has been appointed as the new director general of the exam body.

"While all other examination centres have changed, the one in Chandigarh, where only two candidates will appear, will remain the same," a senior NTA official said.

"Besides, officials from the agency and the Union education ministry will also be present at these centres. The step has been taken to ensure smooth conduct of the re-exam," the official added.

Earlier on Thursday (Jun 20), Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan ruled out cancellation of NEET exams, saying the government can't jeopardise the careers of millions of students who cleared the exams.

More arrests made

Meanwhile, Indian agencies have arrested more individuals in connection with the allegations of the NEET exam paper leak.Maharashtra’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) detained two teachers from Latur district on Saturday. As per media reports, the two teachers run a coaching centre in Latur.

Earlier,Bihar Police’s Economic Offences Unit (EOU) arrested six people including the prime suspect Chintu from Jharkhand’s Deoghar.

NEET-PG exam postponed

Earlier, the government had postponed the NEET-PG Entrance Examination, originally scheduled to take place on Sunday (June 23).

In a statement issued at 10 pm on June 22, the government said, "Taking into consideration, the recent incidents of allegations regarding the integrity of certain competitive examinations, Ministry of Health has decided to undertake a thorough assessment of the robustness of processes of NEET-PG Entrance Examination, conducted by National Board of Examination for medical students. It has accordingly been decided, as a precautionary measure to postpone the NEET-PG Entrance Examination, scheduled to be held tomorrow i.e. 23rd June, 2024. Fresh date of this examination will be notified at the earliest."

This was the third big examination postponed last week. Earlier, the government also postponed the UGC-NET and CSIR-UGC NET exams, citing inputs that the integrity of the exam may have been compromised.

Opposition takes government to cleaners

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said that the "buck stops at the doorstep of the top echelons of the Modi Govt".

"Shuffling the bureaucrats is no solution to the endemic problem in the Education system rotted by the BJP. NTA was projected to be an autonomous body, but in reality was made to serve the devious interests of the BJP/RSS. For students to get Justice, Modi Govt must be held accountable," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)