The controversy surrounding NEET UG 2024 shows no signs of abating. Across the country, students protest against the National Testing Agency (NTA) alleging malpractices in the undergraduate medical entrance test, NEET UG. They demand the cancellation and reconduct of the exam and vestigation of the paper leak by CBI. The Supreme Court, which is set to hear the consolidation of separate petitions filed in various high courts on 8th July, has yet to decide on this hotly debated issue. Amidst this, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh has raised serious concern regarding the honesty of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the design of NEET. The SP President has also called for the cancellation of the NEET exam.
Jairam Ramesh questions whether NEET is fraught with discrimination on social media.
On his 'X' social media account (formerly Twitter), Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh posted, "As a member of the Parliament Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare between 2014 and 2019, I recall the overwhelming support for NEET during that period. However, there were MPs, particularly from Tamil Nadu, who had expressed concerns that NEET would benefit CBSE students, putting others at a disadvantage. Now, I believe that a proper analysis is needed on this CBSE issue. Is NEET filled with discrimination? Are students from poorer backgrounds being deprived of opportunities? Other states like Maharashtra have also expressed deep skepticism regarding NEET."
Jairam Ramesh, in his post, goes on to question the professionalism of the National Testing Agency (NTA), the administering of NEET, and the decline in NCERT's own professionalism in the past decade. He hopes the newly formed Standing Committee will conduct a thorough review of NEET, NTA, and NCERT – a task that should be a top priority.
Meanwhile, SP President Akhilesh Yadav, amid student protests over the NEET exam results and the paper leak controversy, has demanded the cancellation of the NEET exam. He wrote on his 'X' social media, "One country, one demand, cancel the NEET exam."
It is important to mention that the controversy escalated after the NEET results declared 67 students as toppers. Currently, NTA has planned to reconduct NEET exclusively for those 1563 students who were awarded grace marks due to the revised answer-key and the loss of time. The demand for a paper leak probe and CBI investigation is with the Supreme Bench, awaiting the hearing on 8th July.
