News Analysis India

Tag: NTA

  • Video: CBI Team Probing NTA Paper Leak Case Attacked By Mob In Bihar’s Nawada; 4 Arrested |

    A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team conducting searches related to the UGC-NET paper leak case was attacked by a mob of 300 individuals in Bihar’s Nawada earlier today. As the CBI took over the ongoing probe regarding the allegations of ‘paper leaks’ in NEET-UG examinations, the team reached Nawada in an attempt to carry out the investigation.

    The residents of Kasiyadih village attacked the CBI, mistaking it for a hoax, and damaged vehicles. Four individuals were arrested in relation to the incident.

    The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered FIR on Sunday concerning alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG medical entrance exam held on May 5. This follows the Centre’s announcement that the investigation would be transferred to the CBI. The agency is now taking steps to assume control of the investigations and FIRs from other states related to the case.

    This is a developing story.

    VIDEO | A CBI team, probing the UGC-NET paper leak case, was attacked in Bihar’s Nawada earlier today. More details awaited.

    (Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvqRQz)

    (Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/DccOYgnVaD


    — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 23, 2024

  • Supreme Court Seeks Centre, NTA Response On Petitions Calling For NEET-UG 2024 Cancellation |

    NEET-UG Controversy: The Supreme Court on Thursday sought response from the Centre, the National Testing Agency (NTA) and others regarding petitions calling for the cancellation of NEET-UG 2024 and a court-supervised investigation into alleged irregularities in the medical entrance examination. 

    A vacation bench of Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti also sought response from the involved parties regarding separate requests made by the NTA to transfer some ongoing cases from the high courts to the apex court. 

    These pleas filed by NTA and other petitioners is scheduled for hearing on July 8. 

    One of the petitions, filed by 20 students who appeared for the medical entrance exam filled a petition requesting for the NTA for re-conduction of examination. 

    Earlier on June 18, during the hearing of separate pleas on NEET-UG 2024 examinations, the apex court said that even if there was a ‘0.001% negligence’ on anyone’s part, it will be investigated. 

    Last week, while addressing separate petitions concerning issues with NEET-UG 2024, the Supreme Court requested responses from the Centre and the NTA regarding a plea for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into allegations of a question paper leak and other exam irregularities. 

    The NTA conducts all India pre-medical entrance exam along with several other important and entrance level tests. The exam was held on May 5 across 4,750 centres with 24 lakh candidates appearing for it. 

    On June 19 the NTA announced the cancellation of UGC-NET exams due to concerns regarding ‘integrity compromise.’  

    While hearing separate petitions raising grievances over the NEET-UG 2024, the apex court had last week sought responses from the Centre and the NTA on a plea for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into allegations of question paper leak and other irregularities in the exam.

    (Based on inputs from PTI)

  • ‘Even If 0.001% Negligence…’: Supreme Court Slams Exam Body NTA Over NEET Row |

    NEET 2024 Exam Result Row Latest News: With the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) examination facing all-around criticism, the Supreme Court has slammed the National Testing Agency for the alleged irregularities and negligence in conducting the prestigious national exam for medical college aspirants. “Even if there’s 0.001% negligence on anyone’s part, it should be thoroughly dealt with,” said the top Court while hearing the petitions filed by aspirants challenging the exam result.

    The results for the medical entrance examination, taken by 2.4 million students on May 5, were announced on June 4. Allegations of an exam paper leak soon emerged, with 67 students reportedly achieving perfect scores of 720/720.

    The next hearing in the case is scheduled for July 8. The top court emphasized the importance of fairness in the examination process, stating, “As an agency conducting the examination, you must act fairly. If there is a mistake, acknowledge it and outline the corrective action. This approach inspires confidence in your performance.”

    Grace marks were allegedly given to compensate for lost time at the exam centres. Numerous student organizations have protested against the alleged NEET irregularities, including incidents of incorrect question papers being distributed, Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheets being damaged, and delays in sheet distribution.

    Last week, the National Testing Agency (NTA) informed the Supreme Court that the grace marks awarded to 1,563 candidates in the NEET-UG exam would be revoked, offering these candidates the opportunity to retake the exam on June 23. The results of the re-test are expected to be released before June 30.

    Candidates who opt not to retake the exam will have their original scores reinstated, minus the extra marks.

    Bihar police have arrested 13 people in connection with an alleged NEET paper -leak while the Gujarat Police have arrested some persons accused of compromising an entire exam centre in Bharuch.

  • DMK blames testing agency over NEET, slams BJP-led govt for being ‘spectator’

    Chennai: Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK on Saturday accused the National Testing Agency of spoiling the sanctity of NEET and blamed the BJP-led government at the Centre for being a ‘spectator’ and backing coaching centres that earned in crores. Yet again, the DMK sought scrapping the national test, saying it alone would protect the sanctity of education sector.

    Referring to the Centre telling the Supreme Court days ago that the grace marks of 1,563 students would be cancelled, DMK’s Tamil mouthpiece ‘Murasoli’ said the BJP government would not have done this if the matter had not been taken to the apex court. Over the years, several irregularities have been happening in NEET and the BJP government did not take note of it, the daily in an editorial on June 15 alleged.

    The irregularities and scams that happened in ‘secret’ so far in the conduct of NEET was held in ‘open’ this year. Only to hide this, the test result that was scheduled to be released on June 14 was advanced to June 4, when the result of Lok Sabha polls was declared. However, the scam got exposed. “We have heard about grace marks, it will be one or two marks. But, how could 70 and 80 marks be termed grace marks? The NTA awarded full marks and this is national injustice.” The BJP government remained ‘servile’ to coaching centres that earned crores every month and it ‘established’ the ‘rule of corporates’ in the education sector too.

    Right from the beginning, Tamil Nadu and key political parties including the DMK have been opposing NEET and the Assembly passed a Bill to exempt the state from the purview of the exam and it was sent to the Centre to secure Presidential assent.

    “We (the state) have requested scrapping NEET or exemption to Tamil Nadu from the test.” The BJP government, however, rejected the staunch opposition as merely political. However, today, the students themselves have realised the ‘fraudulent’ aspects and the affected students approached the top court with a plea to cancel the May 5, 2024 National Eligibility cum Entrance Test and sought strong measures to prevent irregularities. “The Supreme Court itself said the sanctity of NEET-UG has been affected and ‘who spoiled the sanctity? it was the National Testing Agency and the BJP government at the Centre was a spectator.”

    On the whole, only abolishing NEET will be the permanent and fair solution to this problem and only then the sanctity of the education sector would be protected.

    On behalf of the NTA and the Centre, the same advocate appeared before the apex court and it makes it clear that there is no difference in stand whatsoever between the agency and the union government. Also, the Centre aided the agency in its decisions. Even after the grace mark scam was exposed, the union government does not appear to have realised its mistake.

    Referring to the retest on June 23 for students whose grace marks were withdrawn, the Dravidian party daily wondered about the nature of the outcome of the exam to be held again. “See the manner in which they (centre/agency) argue (in court) for the coaching centres that earn in crores.”

  • NEET UG Results: Congress Demands SC-Monitored Probe Into 2024 Exam ‘Irregularities’ |

    NEET UG 2024 Exam Result: The Congress on Friday accused the BJP of cheating young people and tampering with their futures on Friday, demanding a high-level investigation into “irregularities” in NEET for medical courses conducted under the supervision of the Supreme Court. Paper leaks, test-rigging, and corruption, according to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, have become commonplace in many exams, including the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

    “Paper leaks, rigging and corruption have become an integral part of many examinations including NEET. The Modi government is directly responsible for this. For the candidates, appearing in the recruitment exams, then facing several irregularities, getting caught in the labyrinth of paper leaks, is playing with their future. BJP has cheated the youth of the country. We demand that a high-level investigation should be conducted under the supervision of the Supreme Court so that our talented students appearing in NEET and other exams get justice.,” he wrote in a Hindi post on X.

    A record 67 candidates, including six from the same exam centre, received the top rank in the NEET medical entrance exam due to alleged mark inflation, according to several applicants. The NCERT textbook modifications and the provision of grace marks for tardiness at the testing centre, according to the National Testing Agency (NTA), account for some of the students’ higher scores. The NTA, however, refuted any irregularities. Six of the 67 students who shared rank one came from the same Haryana examination centre, according to the results released by NTA on Wednesday night.

    Earlier, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised the Modi government on Friday for what she described as anomalies in the NEET medical entrance exam and demanded that students’ “legitimate complaints” be looked into. The Congress party claimed irregularities have affected the future of around 24 lakh children. It said that the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the government should answer and also ensure accountability.

    NTA Issues Clarification Over Alleged Irregularities In NEET 2024 Results 

    The NTA provided a detailed explanation of the reason for the mark inflation, said that it had received complaints about time lost during the exam. “The normalisation formula, which was developed and approved by the Supreme Court in its Judgement dated June 13, 2018, was put into effect to address the time loss experienced by the NEET (UG) 2024 candidates after NTA took into consideration the cases and representations mentioned.

    “It was determined how much exam time was lost, and such candidates received grace marks in exchange. Therefore, the marks may also be 718 or 719,” the statement read. Speaking to news agency PTI, a senior NTA said that the question paper was created using a new NCERT textbook in response to questions regarding the claims of unclear grace mark implementation.”

    The entrance exam was held on May 5 at 4,750 locations in 571 cities, including 14 abroad. The NTA claimed on May 5 that the distribution of incorrect question papers at an exam centre in Rajasthan resulted in some candidates walking out with the papers. The agency denied any leaks of the question paper.

    A day later, the NTA reiterated that reports of question paper leaks in the medical entrance exam NEET-UG are “completely baseless and without any ground” and that every question paper has been accounted for.

  • Rajasthan: MBBS Student Caught As Proxy Candidate, 5 Others Detained |

    New Delhi: During the medical entrance exam on Sunday in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, authorities detained an MBBS student who was posing as a NEET aspirant, along with five accomplices. Investigations unveiled a scheme orchestrated by the student’s college peer, Ravi Meena, who allegedly extorted Rs 10 lakh from Rahul Gurjar, the genuine candidate.

    At the exam center, Abhishek Gupta was caught impersonating Rahul Gurjar by vigilant invigilators who promptly alerted the police. Gupta confessed during initial questioning that he had five associates stationed in a car outside the examination venue, Master Adityendra School under the Mathura Gate police station area. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Aklesh Kumar confirmed the detention of all involved parties and assured further investigative measures.

    Aside from Gupta, Meena, and Gurjar, police identified the other detainees as Amit, Dayaram, and Suraj Singh. Concurrently, at a center in Sawai Madhopur, candidates sitting for the NEET-UG exam raised complaints regarding the distribution of question papers. Allegations surfaced that candidates who selected English as their medium received papers in Hindi and vice versa.

    In response to parental outcry over alleged police brutality during protests, the National Testing Agency (NTA) issued a public statement acknowledging an “incorrect distribution” of question papers by the center superintendent. Sadhna Parashar, Senior Director at NTA, emphasized the organization’s commitment to fairness and announced proactive measures. Approximately 120 affected candidates are undergoing reexamination to ensure their academic pursuits remain unaffected by the incident.

  • Technical glitches persist on day-2 of CUET-UG phase-2 exams

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: For the second consecutive day, harried students and parents had a tough time when many CUET-UG centres cancelled exams due to technical glitches.

    Students in Noida, adjoining Delhi, were the worst affected, with the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelling the exam in the Noida examination centre. Many took to social media to share the notice NTA put up in front of the centres. The notice said, “It is regretted that due to technical/logistics reasons, the CUET (UG) exam scheduled at the centre on August 5 is postponed to August 12.”

    For students and parents, already stressed out due to the exam and travelling long distances to the centre, it was worse when they had to brave the rain for two hours before being turned away as the exam was cancelled at the last minute.

    The testing agency said that the first shift of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET)-Undergraduate exam was carried out smoothly at 95 per cent of the centres across the country, despite students posting anxious messages for NTA on Twitter about the exam being cancelled at their centres.

    In Noida, many students said their exam was cancelled in both the morning and afternoon slots. In Greater Noida, many students complained that their exam started late by half an hour due to technical glitches. In some other centres, students said during the exam also their system was not working properly and it was hanging, thus slowing the process.

    One of the students at the Noida centre said he had come to the examination centre two hours before the exam. “But when it was time for us to take the exam, we were informed that it had been cancelled due to technical glitches. It was such a waste of time. They could have informed us on time. We are already under so much stress because of the exam,” the student said.

    Another student said that they had to brave the rain and didn’t want to leave the centre till they got the NTA notification about the exam being cancelled.

    A student, who had travelled a distance of 50 km, shared that they were not allowed to carry water bottles, and when they asked for water during the exam, they were told to fetch it from the water cooler. “I had to get up to get water as I was very thirsty.”

    Another student added that the exam was easy, and it was the only saving grace after the early morning anxious moment when they were told that their examination centre was changed. “I was on the verge of tears. My parents panicked too when we were told my centre was not in Paschim Vihar but in Jahangirpuri, which was 30 km away. Somehow, we managed to reach on time,” she added.

    “Wasn’t the CUET supposed to make the UG admissions process simpler?,” asked another student on Twitter.

    NTA said they would release the admit cards soon for the remaining exams scheduled from August 7, as many students urged the testing agency to release the admit cards.

    The second phase of CUET-UG had a rocky start on Thursday as technical and administrative issues forced the NTA to cancel the second shift exam across all 489 centres and postpone the first shift at 29 centres in 17 states. These exams will be conducted on August 12.

    The NTA has also postponed the CUET-UG in Kerala, scheduled for August 4, 5 and 6, due to heavy rains and said fresh dates would be announced later.

    Around 6.8 lakh candidates will appear for CUET phase 2 exams.

    The phase I exams were conducted on July 15, 16, 19 and 20, and the second phase exams are slated for August 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 20. The first phase saw 76.48 per cent attendance, while as many as 58,909 candidates missed it.

    According to the University Grants Commission (UGC), over 14 lakh registrations have been made for the entrance exam, a gateway to undergraduate courses in 90 universities across India.

    NEW DELHI: For the second consecutive day, harried students and parents had a tough time when many CUET-UG centres cancelled exams due to technical glitches.

    Students in Noida, adjoining Delhi, were the worst affected, with the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelling the exam in the Noida examination centre. Many took to social media to share the notice NTA put up in front of the centres. The notice said, “It is regretted that due to technical/logistics reasons, the CUET (UG) exam scheduled at the centre on August 5 is postponed to August 12.”

    For students and parents, already stressed out due to the exam and travelling long distances to the centre, it was worse when they had to brave the rain for two hours before being turned away as the exam was cancelled at the last minute.

    The testing agency said that the first shift of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET)-Undergraduate exam was carried out smoothly at 95 per cent of the centres across the country, despite students posting anxious messages for NTA on Twitter about the exam being cancelled at their centres.

    In Noida, many students said their exam was cancelled in both the morning and afternoon slots. In Greater Noida, many students complained that their exam started late by half an hour due to technical glitches. In some other centres, students said during the exam also their system was not working properly and it was hanging, thus slowing the process.

    One of the students at the Noida centre said he had come to the examination centre two hours before the exam. “But when it was time for us to take the exam, we were informed that it had been cancelled due to technical glitches. It was such a waste of time. They could have informed us on time. We are already under so much stress because of the exam,” the student said.

    Another student said that they had to brave the rain and didn’t want to leave the centre till they got the NTA notification about the exam being cancelled.

    A student, who had travelled a distance of 50 km, shared that they were not allowed to carry water bottles, and when they asked for water during the exam, they were told to fetch it from the water cooler. “I had to get up to get water as I was very thirsty.”

    Another student added that the exam was easy, and it was the only saving grace after the early morning anxious moment when they were told that their examination centre was changed. “I was on the verge of tears. My parents panicked too when we were told my centre was not in Paschim Vihar but in Jahangirpuri, which was 30 km away. Somehow, we managed to reach on time,” she added.

    “Wasn’t the CUET supposed to make the UG admissions process simpler?,” asked another student on Twitter.

    NTA said they would release the admit cards soon for the remaining exams scheduled from August 7, as many students urged the testing agency to release the admit cards.

    The second phase of CUET-UG had a rocky start on Thursday as technical and administrative issues forced the NTA to cancel the second shift exam across all 489 centres and postpone the first shift at 29 centres in 17 states. These exams will be conducted on August 12.

    The NTA has also postponed the CUET-UG in Kerala, scheduled for August 4, 5 and 6, due to heavy rains and said fresh dates would be announced later.

    Around 6.8 lakh candidates will appear for CUET phase 2 exams.

    The phase I exams were conducted on July 15, 16, 19 and 20, and the second phase exams are slated for August 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 20. The first phase saw 76.48 per cent attendance, while as many as 58,909 candidates missed it.

    According to the University Grants Commission (UGC), over 14 lakh registrations have been made for the entrance exam, a gateway to undergraduate courses in 90 universities across India.

  • Second chance for those who missed CUET UG in July

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Candidates who missed the Central University Entrance Test undergraduate (CUET UG) exam in the first phase in July due to last-minute change of centres and cancellations, will get another chance in the second phase beginning August 4, officials said on Tuesday.

    The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the entrance examination, on Tuesday released admit cards for students appearing for the examination on August 4, 5 and 6 on Tuesday. Admit cards for the examinations to be held after August 6 will be issued later.

    The testing agency also announced that exams for candidates affected by the flood and having other entrance and competitive examinations during this period had been shifted to August 12, 13 and 14 from August 4, 5 and 6, following various representations Technical problems in the first phase marred the first-ever CUET.

    Exams were cancelled in two centres, one in West Bengal’s New Jalpaiguri and other Punjab’s Pathankot – owing to technical issues. NTA said 19 students who missed the exams in these two centres can now take them. Registered candidates can download their admit cards from the official website cuet.samarth.ac.in by logging in through their registered credentials.

    NEW DELHI: Candidates who missed the Central University Entrance Test undergraduate (CUET UG) exam in the first phase in July due to last-minute change of centres and cancellations, will get another chance in the second phase beginning August 4, officials said on Tuesday.

    The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the entrance examination, on Tuesday released admit cards for students appearing for the examination on August 4, 5 and 6 on Tuesday. Admit cards for the examinations to be held after August 6 will be issued later.

    The testing agency also announced that exams for candidates affected by the flood and having other entrance and competitive examinations during this period had been shifted to August 12, 13 and 14 from August 4, 5 and 6, following various representations Technical problems in the first phase marred the first-ever CUET.

    Exams were cancelled in two centres, one in West Bengal’s New Jalpaiguri and other Punjab’s Pathankot – owing to technical issues. NTA said 19 students who missed the exams in these two centres can now take them. Registered candidates can download their admit cards from the official website cuet.samarth.ac.in by logging in through their registered credentials.

  • NEET horror: NTA fact-finding team to submit report in four weeks in Kerala ‘innerwear’ incident

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The three-member fact-finding team, which will probe Kerala ‘innerwear’ incident, will submit its report in four weeks, the National Testing Agency (NTA) officials said.

    The three committee members are Dr Sadhana Parashar, senior director, NTA; Shylaja O R, Principal, Saraswathi Vidyalaya Arappura Vattiyoorkavu, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala and Suchitra Shyjinth, Pragati Academy, Perumbavoor Ernakulam.

    According to NTA, the committee members will visit the spot and verify the facts after talking to all concerned persons, including the girl students, who were forced to remove their innerwear before taking the NEET exam on Sunday.

    One of the candidates’ fathers lodged a police complaint, following which five women, who were involved in the frisking and forcing girls to remove their innerwear, were arrested Tuesday.

    The committee will also verify the security/frisking protocols of NTA, as detailed in its information bulletin on ‘barred items and dress code’ and NTA NEET(UG)-2022 guidelines for city coordinators, centre superintendents, observers and invigilators were followed.

    ALSO READ | Kerala horror: Female students asked to remove innerwear at NEET exam centre

    NTA said that the committee would give necessary recommendations.

    “The Committee will submit its report in 4 weeks,” officials said.

    NTA, which had earlier denied that the incident had happened and dismissed the allegation as fictitious, announced a fact-finding committee following directions from Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who received many representatives from Kerala on Tuesday. 

    The National Commission for Women (NCW), which described the incident as “shameful and outrageous” to the modesty of the young girls, asked the NTA  to conduct an “independent inquiry into the allegations levelled by the girl students and to take appropriate action by law against the responsible.”

    NEW DELHI: The three-member fact-finding team, which will probe Kerala ‘innerwear’ incident, will submit its report in four weeks, the National Testing Agency (NTA) officials said.

    The three committee members are Dr Sadhana Parashar, senior director, NTA; Shylaja O R, Principal, Saraswathi Vidyalaya Arappura Vattiyoorkavu, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala and Suchitra Shyjinth, Pragati Academy, Perumbavoor Ernakulam.

    According to NTA, the committee members will visit the spot and verify the facts after talking to all concerned persons, including the girl students, who were forced to remove their innerwear before taking the NEET exam on Sunday.

    One of the candidates’ fathers lodged a police complaint, following which five women, who were involved in the frisking and forcing girls to remove their innerwear, were arrested Tuesday.

    The committee will also verify the security/frisking protocols of NTA, as detailed in its information bulletin on ‘barred items and dress code’ and NTA NEET(UG)-2022 guidelines for city coordinators, centre superintendents, observers and invigilators were followed.

    ALSO READ | Kerala horror: Female students asked to remove innerwear at NEET exam centre

    NTA said that the committee would give necessary recommendations.

    “The Committee will submit its report in 4 weeks,” officials said.

    NTA, which had earlier denied that the incident had happened and dismissed the allegation as fictitious, announced a fact-finding committee following directions from Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who received many representatives from Kerala on Tuesday. 

    The National Commission for Women (NCW), which described the incident as “shameful and outrageous” to the modesty of the young girls, asked the NTA  to conduct an “independent inquiry into the allegations levelled by the girl students and to take appropriate action by law against the responsible.”

  • Those who missed CUET due to exam centre change to get another chance: NTA officials

    Before the exam, several aspirants have raised concerns over having to give too many exams in a short period, delay in admit cards and not being given the choice of centre.