BHUBANESWAR, 17 Jun: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the government will take strong actions against functionaries of the National Testing Agency (NTA) if they are found to have been involved in irregularities in the conduct of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), 2024.
Pradhan made this statement during his visit to Sambalpur in Odisha on Sunday. He said that two types of irregularities in the conduct of NEET have come to the limelight.
As per preliminary information, grace marks have been awarded to some students as they were dissatisfied as they were allotted less time than the prescribed duration, he said.
The government has disapproved the grace marks, and directed reexamination
for 1,563 students as per the Supreme Court order, the education minister said.
“Additional wrongdoings have also come to the fore in two locations. I assure both students and parents that the government has taken the issue very seriously. We will take it to a logical end,” he said.
If any officials, including senior functionaries of the NTA, are found guilty, they will not be spared and strong action will be taken against them, he said.
The minister also advocated reforms in the NTA.
“A lot of reforms are required in NTA’s functioning,though it is an autonomous institution. The government is concerned about this. I want to reassure that no culprit will be spared; strict action will be taken against them,” he added.
The NEET-UG, which is the gateway for admission to undergraduate-level medical courses in India, was conducted on 5 May at 4,750 centres across 571 cities in India. The results were declared on 4 June.
After the results were declared, parents and teachers began questioning the grace marks awarded to 1,563 students. (PTI)
