Amidst the controversy surrounding “negligence” in the NEET-UG and the cancellation of the UGC NET exam, the Centre announced on Friday the enforcement of the “Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.” This law prevents unfair practices in public examinations and common entrance tests conducted nationwide and takes effect on Friday.
What does the new law say?
- The Act describes public examinations as those administered by authorities designated by the central government.
- The Act prohibits the disclosure of confidential exam-related information and unauthorised individuals from entering exam centres to cause disturbances.
- The law comprises strict provisions for those involved in these offences, including a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine of up to ₹1 crore.
NEET 2024 row
- Students in thousands have been protesting for weeks against the NEET-UG examination, raising allegations against the irregularities in the test.
- Students alleged paper leaks, increased or decreased scores and random grace marks, which resulted in 67 students topping the examination this year.
- 67 students scored a perfect 720/720 in the NEET-UG exam, most of whom were from a single centre in Faridabad. The Bihar police discovered evidence pointing to a NEET paper leak in the state highlighting a political row.
- Days after NTA announced a re-examination for over 1,500 students who got grace marks, the NEET-PG 2024 exam was cancelled by the Education Ministry just hours before the conduction of the postgraduate entrance test, adding fuel to the fire.
- The new date for the NEET PG exam will be announced soon.
NEET UG paper leak case:
Partially burnt NEET question paper seized as evidence
Key evidence collected by the CBI includes a partially burnt NEET question paper recovered from a house in Patna, laptops and mobile phones of those arrested, post-dated cheques, and reference question papers provided by the National Testing Agency (NTA), the organizing body of NEET.
Sikandar Yadavendu, prime suspect
The prime suspect, Sikandar Yadavendu, is expected to provide his statement to the CBI with 18 other suspects. Statements from Yadavendu’s associates and parents are also scheduled for recording. The CBI may take Yadavendu to Delhi for further interrogation.
CBI to file FIRs
In the report by PTI, the CBI is preparing to file FIRs and register inappropriate assets (DA) cases against some public servants for destroying the evidence.
NEET-UG 2024 protests
Various student unions, including the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), Tribal Students Union (TSU), Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), and Tribal Youth Federation (TYF), have protested against corruption in NEET exams.
Is the accused linked to NDA?
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has shared photographs linking one of the accused, Amit Anand, and family members of Sanjeev Kumar alias Lutan Mukhiya with leaders of the ruling NDA coalition, demanding a detailed investigation into these alleged connections.
Union Education Ministry asks for a report from the Bihar Police’s Economic Offences Unit regarding the irregularities in the NEET exam and the government assures the morality of examinations and protects the interests of students. The education scam has a free hand in corruption. In 7 years, 70 papers have been leaked and the future of 2 crore youth has been ruined. The NEET exam paper leak is a symbol states the disregard of the government towards the students.
