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Education India News Politics

Panel proposes comprehensive reforms for NEET

Among the committee’s key recommendations is a shift towards online and hybrid exam formats….reports Asian Lite News

A committee led by former ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan has proposed several comprehensive reforms to address issues within India’s entrance examination system, especially following a recent NEET paper leak. Submitted to the Ministry of Education, the report aims to improve exam integrity, bolster data security, and optimize testing processes nationwide.

Among the committee’s key recommendations is a shift towards online and hybrid exam formats. Full online testing is advised where feasible, while a hybrid model, which would involve digital question paper distribution to centers and traditional paper-based responses by candidates, could be applied where complete digital transition is not possible. This would modernize exam administration, improve security, and minimize logistical risks associated with physical handling.

To manage the large number of NEET aspirants—about two million applicants registered this year alone—the committee has proposed a multi-stage examination process, similar to the structure of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). This phased approach would allow for more effective screening and better control over candidate volumes.

In relation to the Central University Entrance Test (CUET), the committee suggests streamlining the test subjects. Presently, CUET offers over 50 subject options, which often overlap with topics students have already covered in their board exams. The panel argues that focusing on general aptitude and core subject knowledge, instead of re-examining board topics, would enhance efficiency, reduce redundancy, and concentrate the CUET’s function on generating college admission merit lists.

Strengthening the National Testing Agency (NTA) forms another critical area of the committee’s recommendations. They advocate for the NTA to increase its number of permanent staff, as the current dependency on contractual workers may undermine exam consistency and administration quality. Furthermore, the NTA is encouraged to expand its network of exam centers, minimizing reliance on private centers that might pose security risks.

Data security remains a top priority, with the committee strongly advocating for digital transmission of question papers. This change aims to curb unauthorized access, such as the recent NEET leak that reportedly stemmed from paper mishandling after reaching the exam center. A digital approach would enable questions to be securely released just before exams, thereby reducing the risk of leaks.

In a bid to create a fairer exam environment, the committee has also recommended limiting NEET-UG attempt numbers. Unlike the current system that allows unlimited tries, a cap on attempts could foster greater preparation and limit excessive retries.

Overall, these proposed reforms from the Radhakrishnan committee reflect a multi-pronged approach to secure, streamline, and modernize India’s high-stakes examination framework, ensuring a fair and efficient system for future candidates.

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Education India News Karnataka

Karnataka passes resolution against NEET exam

Earlier on Tuesday, July 23, the Supreme Court declined to cancel the NEET-UG 2024 exam, realising that giving direction for a fresh NEET-UG for the present year would be replete with serious consequences for over 24 lakh students who appeared in this exam…reports Asian Lite News

Raising its strong voice against the all-India medical entrance exam NEET, the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government on Thursday passed a resolution in both houses of the state government against the exam and demanded the Centre for allowing the state to revert back to the earlier system of CET for medical admissions in Karnataka.

Pointing out the flaws and the recent irregularities in the NEET exam, the resolution urged the Union Government to exempt the State of Karnataka from this examination and allow it to provide admissions to medical colleges based on the Common Entrance Test (CET) conducted by the state government.

While the State Minister of Medical Education and Skill Development, Dr Sharan Prakash Patil, moved the resolution in the legislative assembly, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar presented it in the legislative council.

“The NEET examination system severely affects the medical education opportunities of poor rural students and deprives the rights of the state governments to admit students in the state government medical colleges and considering the repeated irregularities in the NEET examination, the Union Government should make necessary amendments in the National Medical Commission Act, 2019 (Central Act 30 of 2019) so that the NEET system is given up at the national level. Also, the Karnataka Legislative Council unanimously urges that the Union government should immediately exempt the state of Karnataka from examination and provide medical admission based on the Common Entrance Test (CET) conducted by the state government,” the resolution said.

” Medical Education Minister Dr Sharan Prakash Patil has been continuously opposing the NEET exam by highlighting the massive irregularities and how this system was affecting the chances of underprivileged and rural students and their dream of a medical profession,” it added.

On Wednesday, the ruling TMC government in West Bengal moved a resolution in the West Bengal Assembly demanding the scrapping of the NEET and restoration of the previous system of individual state governments conducting such examinations. The resolution was passed in the assembly.

Earlier on Tuesday, July 23, the Supreme Court declined to cancel the NEET-UG 2024 exam, realising that giving direction for a fresh NEET-UG for the present year would be replete with serious consequences for over 24 lakh students who appeared in this exam.

The apex court was hearing a batch of pleas seeking direction to recall NEET-UG 2024 results and to conduct the examination afresh, alleging paper leakage and malpractices in the test held. (ANI)

UPSC to overhaul exam system amid Puja Khedkar row

Amidst new revelations in the controversy surrounding Puja Khedkar, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is set to enhance its examination security measures using advanced technologies like Aadhaar-based fingerprint authentication, facial recognition systems, and AI-driven CCTV surveillance, according to several media reports.

This overhaul aims to uphold the integrity of UPSC exams following widespread allegations of cheating in the NEET medical entrance exams. The UPSC conducts 14 examinations annually, including the prestigious Civil Services Examination (CSE), and various recruitment tests and interviews for Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ posts within the Government of India. In 2023, over 1.01 million people applied for the CSE, with approximately 590,000 candidates appearing for the exam. The CSE recommends candidates for esteemed services such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS).

The move comes in light of several lapses reported during the NEET 2024 exams and follows a controversy involving trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar, alleged to have forged documents to appear for the CSE 12 times, exceeding the allowed number of attempts. The UPSC has filed a criminal case against Khedkar.

On June 20, the UPSC issued a tender seeking bids from public sector undertakings (PSUs) to revamp its examination process. The Commission aims to utilize the latest digital technology to match and cross-check candidates’ biometric details and monitor activities during the exams to prevent cheating, fraud, and impersonation.

Changes to the UPSC exams will include using data and images submitted during online registration for Aadhaar-based fingerprint authentication and facial recognition to verify candidates on exam day. Fingerprint scanners and facial recognition devices will be deployed at examination centers to ensure accurate identity verification. The UPSC also proposes a real-time attendance monitoring system with GPS coordinates to confirm enrollment within the designated shift. The QR code on the Admit Card, containing the candidate’s roll number, will be scanned to retrieve information from the Application Database. If the QR code cannot be scanned, the roll number will be entered manually from the Admit Card.

The UPSC plans to implement CCTV/video surveillance with recording and live broadcast capabilities to monitor candidates and exam personnel nationwide. The service provider will be required to install an adequate number of CCTV cameras in every classroom, ensuring at least one camera for every 24 candidates. Cameras will also be placed at entry and exit gates and control rooms where sensitive pre- and post-examination materials are handled. Additionally, remote live viewing of CCTV footage will be arranged at the UPSC’s control room, ensuring real-time monitoring and enhancing overall security during the examinations.

ALSO READ-Bengal Assembly passes resolution on scrapping of NEET

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Education India News

SC asks NTA to publish NEET-UG results of all students

The bench said it will continue the hearing of pleas alleging paper leak and malpractice in NEET-UG 2024 exams, on July 22…reports Asian Lite News

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the National Testing Agency (NTA) to publish on its website the marks obtained by all the students who appeared in Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test undergraduate exam (NEET-UG) 2024 and said the identity of students should be masked.

A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra ordered that result should be published separately, city and centre-wise by Saturday 12 noon.

The apex court passed the direction to the NTA to publish the results, after the petitioners-students urged it to direct the testing agency to publish the result of all students to bring in some transparency.

The top court in its order stated, “The petitioners have submitted that it would be appropriate if the results of the NEET-UG 24 exam is published on the website so as to bring about some transparency on the centre-wise marks obtained by candidates. We direct the NTA to publish the marks obtained by students in the NEET-UG 2024 exam while at the same time ensuring that the identity of the students is masked. The results should be declared in relation to each centre and city separately.”

The bench said it will continue the hearing of pleas alleging paper leak and malpractice in NEET-UG 2024 exams, on July 22.

The top court held a day-long hearing in the NEET-UG matter.

The apex court was hearing a batch of pleas seeking direction to recall NEET-UG 2024 results and to conduct the examination afresh, alleging paper leakage and malpractices in the test held.

Aspirants had approached the top court and raised the issue of leakage of question paper, awarding compensatory marks and anomaly in question of NEET-UG.

NEET-UG examination, conducted by NTA, is the pathway for admissions into MBBS, BDS and AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.

The NEET-UG, 2024 was held across 4,750 centres on May 5 and around 24 lakh candidates appeared in it. During the hearing, apex court posed several questions to NTA regarding alleged paper leak and malpractices in NEET exam.

It asked NTA about how many students out of 23.33 lakhs who appeared for the exam changed their centre.

NTA said that in the name of corrections, students change centres and 15,000 students utilised the window for corrections.

NTA said that students can change only the city and no candidate can choose the centre. Centre is allotted by the system and centre’s allotment is only two days before the exam, so nobody knows which centre is going to be allotted, it added.

Petitioners-candidates counsel argued that question papers were dispatched to the centres on April 24 through a private courier company and reached the SBI and Canara banks on May 3.

To this, CJI said that the papers were dispatched on April 24 and received on May 3, which makes the time gap about nine days.

The top court was informed that question papers were sent to SBI and Canara bank branches in 571 cities and there were 4,750 centres.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that CBI has investigated the entire chain of event from the printers to the centres.

“CBI has investigated the entire chain of event from the printers to the centres… how there was sealing, GPS tracking…, there are digital lockers… There is a 7-layer safety system. There are two printing presses because there are two papers,” he said.

Petitioners’ counsel told the bench that a trunk was found to be travelling on an open e-rickshaw to Oasis school and Hazaribagh school principal received this trunk and now arrested by CBI. The sealed trunk was delivered to him and not to any bank.

He further said, “There is a systemic failure by NTA in conducting the exam by NTA, it’s failure is multi-dimensional. The transportation of question papers got compromised when for six days the papers were in the hands of a private courier company and the papers were being transported in an e-rickshaw in Hazaribagh. Instead of taking it to the bank, the driver took it to the Oasis school.”

The dissemination of the leaked papers was doing rounds from May 3 itself, he said, adding that evidence of Telegram videos show that the solved papers were being circulated on May 4.

“Given the nature of social media, it is impossible to accurately determine the exact spread of the leaked papers and the beneficiaries,” argued the counsel.

To this, CJI Chandrachud asked, why would people making money out of leaked papers circulate them mass-scale?

“The idea of somebody doing this is not to make a national charade of NEET exam. People were doing it for money. So, it was not to bring disrepute to the exam and somebody was doing it to make money, which is evident now. Mass leakage of paper also requires contacts at that level so that you connect to all such key contacts in different cities, etc. Anybody who is making money out of it won’t circulate it mass scale,” said the bench.

CJI asked NTA and Centre that, according to them “students got papers at 10.15 am. There are 180 questions. Is it possible that between 9.30 am and 10.15 am that there are problem solvers and they are given to students in 45 minutes?”

Solicitor General replied that there were seven paper solvers and they demarcated 25 questions each.

“Whole hypothesis that within 45 minutes there was a breach and entire paper was solved and given to students seems very farfetched,” said CJI.

Solicitor General said that there (accused) modus operandi was that “they give the papers to the ones who gave postdated cheques. They did not want mass leak at all. Otherwise, their efforts are wasted. this gang member in Hazaribagh sent the paper to another gang member in Patna through WhatsApp.”

In Godhra incident, the bench said that it cannot say it was a part of widespread malpractice, there is no evidence that the cheating took place.

“It appears that wrongdoing has only happened in Hazaribagh and Patna… then after this we are only left with statistics that 61 students got 720/720… Can we cancel the entire examination on that sole basis?” it asked petitioners’ counsel. (ANI)

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‘Mega scam’: Oppn slams Centre over UGC-NET, NEET rows

Congress said that in this government “most of the examinations have been leaked” and “BJP-ruled States either Gujarat or Bihar is the epicentre of the leaks”…reports Asian Lite News

Samajwadi Party and Congress slammed the central government over the alleged NEET paper leak issue and UGC-NET exam cancellation calling them a “mega-scam”.

After the allegations of irregularities in the NEET entrance exam, the Central government cancelled UGC-NET 2024 on Wednesday evening because exam integrity was compromised. The Ministry of Education has handed the investigation of the UGC -NET 2024 paper leak to CBI.

Congress Senior leader and member of Rajya Sabha Pramod Tiwari told ANI that in this government “most of the examinations have been leaked” and “BJP-ruled States either Gujarat or Bihar is the epicentre of the leaks”.

Tiwari also labelled it as a “mega-scam” and asked PM Modi to do “pariksha par charcha” with the education minister instead of students to know why and how such irregularities in examinations are happening simultaneously.

“Such irregularities and paper leak scams are putting the future of the youth in the dark and PM Modi’s silence over this issue raised many more questions,” he added.

Samajwadi party spokesperson Udaiveer Singh also criticised the government and said that the BJP-led government is providing a safe haven to such paper leak mafia so that after every paper leak and new scam happens, the government must have a reason for not giving employment.

Udaiveer Singh also said that such events are affecting the working force of every government institution because the date of retirement is certain and such scams are delaying the process of recruitment thus resulting in a poor and weak working force.

“What happened to agencies like CBI and STF? They investigate, they arrest but still can’t find the kingpin of such scams and this chain of paper leaks continues,” Singh added.

The NEET-UG 2024 exam was conducted on May 5 and its results were declared on June 4, ahead of its scheduled announcement date of June 14. Protests were held alleging irregularities and paper leaks as the results showed that as many as 67 students had topped the exam with a perfect score of 720.

Petitions have been filed in courts by students seeking a re-test. The Supreme Court has allowed a re-test of over 1,500 students who were awarded “grace marks.”

The NEET-UG examination, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), paves the way for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry cancelled the UGC-NET held on June 18 to ensure the highest level of transparency and sanctity” of the examination process, a ministry release said on Wednesday.

As per the release, on June 19, 2024, the University Grants Commission (UGC) received certain inputs from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs on the Examination. These inputs prima facie indicate that the integrity of the aforesaid examination may have been compromised.

Simultaneously, the matter is being handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for thorough investigation in the matter, it added.

The exam was attended by 81 per cent of over 11.21 lakh registered candidates for the exam in 317 cities across the country, UGC chairman Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar said. (ANI)

UGC-NET: CBI registers case in alleged irregularities

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday registered a case against unknown persons for compromising the integrity of the UGC NET exam conducted on June 18.

The CBI informed that the case has been registered under IPC Section 120B and 420 IPC on the basis of a complaint recieved from the Secretary of the Department of Education.

It has been alleged in the complaint that the University Grants Commission (UGC) received inputs on 19.06.2024 from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analysis Unit of the Indian Cyber Crime Co-ordination Centre (I4C) under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs that the integrity of UGC Net -2024 Examination, conducted by National Testing Agency(NTA) on June 18 in two shifts across different cities in the country, may have been compromised.

The Ministry of Education on Wednesday cancelled the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on June 18 in two shifts across different cities of the country, according to an official press release issued by Ministery of Education.

To ensure the highest level of transparency and sanctity of the examination process, the Ministry of Education, Government of India has decided that the UGC-NET June 2024 Examination be cancelled.

A fresh examination shall be conducted, for which information shall be shared separately.On June 19, 2024, the University Grants Commission (UGC) received certain inputs from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs on the Examination. These inputs prima facie indicate that the integrity of the aforesaid examination may have been compromised.

The UGC-NET exam was conducted on Tuesday. The exam was attended by 81 per cent of over 11.21 lakh registered candidates for the exam in 317 cities across the country, said UGC chairman Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar.

UGC-NET is a test to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for ‘Assistant Professor’ as well as ‘Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor’ in Indian universities and colleges. The UGC-NET is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. (ANI)

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India News Kerala

Kerala CM seeks probe into NEET goof-up

In a statement CM Vijayan said that the Supreme Court on Tuesday sent a notice to the Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA)…reports Asian Lite News

Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, on Tuesday asked the Centre to announce a comprehensive probe into the manner in which the NEET qualifying examination for the year was conducted.

In a statement CM Vijayan said that the Supreme Court on Tuesday sent a notice to the Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA).

“It’s alarming to note that the Centre has done nothing about the manner in which serious flaws in the conduct of the test were reported. The credibility of the process of conducting the qualifying test has been questioned,” said CM Vijayan.

“It’s pertinent to note that when the state government conducted this qualifying examination, things were done in a perfect manner.

“This was changed by the Centre and now despite numerous reports of flaws in the conduct of the NEET exam, till date neither the Centre nor the testing agency has said a word about what has happened.

“Hence we demand that the Centre break its silence and address the fears and concerns of the students and their parents by announcing a comprehensive probe into the goof-up.”

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India News

Supreme Court warns NTA on NEET-UG ‘negligence’

The top court told NTA to admit any mistakes and outline corrective actions promptly, as this “inspires confidence in your performance.”…reports Asian Lite News

The Supreme Court on Tuesday told the Centre and National Testing Agency (NTA) that if there is any negligence in conducting the NEET-UG, 2024 exam, it should be thoroughly dealt with.

“If there is 0.001 per cent negligence on the part of anyone, it should be thoroughly dealt with. All these matters ought not to be treated as adversarial litigation,” observed a vacation bench of Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti.

The bench told counsels appearing for Centre and NTA that children have prepared for the exams and “we cannot forget their labour” for preparing for these exams.

It told the counsel of NTA that as an agency which is conducting the examination, it must “act fair”.

“If there is a mistake, say yes, this is a mistake, and this is the action we are going to take. At least that inspires confidence in your performance,” the top court told NTA while adding that it expects timely action from them.

Aspirants have raised the issue of leakage of the question paper, awarding compensatory marks and anomalies in the question of National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Under Graduate (NEET-UG) 2024.

The apex court, while hearing fresh petitions relating to alleged paper leaks and malpractices in the NEET-UG, 2024 exam on May 5 this year, issued notices and sought a response from NTA within two weeks.

It has tagged these pleas, along with several petitions pending before it and posted them for hearing on July 8.

Several petitions were filed in the apex court seeking direction to recall NEET-UG 2024 results and to conduct the examination afresh, alleging paper leakage and malpractices in the test held on May 5.

Last week, the NTA told the Supreme Court that the scorecards of 1563 NEET-UG 2024 candidates who got “grace marks” to compensate for the loss of time suffered while appearing for the exam will be cancelled and the students will have a chance to reappear for the exam.

“Exam will be conducted on June 23 and result will be declared before June 30,” NTA had told the apex court.

The apex court had already refused to stay the counselling of NEET-UG, 2024.

The NEET-UG examination, conducted by the NTA, is the pathway for admissions into MBBS, BDS and AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country. (ANI)

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Education India News

Sibal questions Modi’s ‘silence’ over NEET exam

They will have the option to either take a re-test or forgo the compensatory marks awarded to them for loss of time, the Centre had said…reports Asian Lite News

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Saturday hit out at the Centre over the NEET exam issue and questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “silence” over the matter.

The examination was held on May 5 across 4,750 centres and around 24 lakh candidates appeared for it. The results were expected to be declared on June 14 but were announced on June 4, apparently because the evaluation of the answer sheets was completed earlier.

There have been allegations of question paper leaks in states like Bihar and other irregularities in the prestigious exam.

In a post on X, Sibal said, “NEET Examination. The Gujarat factor. Open corruption. Open manipulation. PLEASE notice: Modiji’s ‘neat’ silence.”

The Centre and the National Testing Agency on Thursday told the Supreme Court they had cancelled the grace marks given to 1,563 candidates who took the examination for admission to MBBS and other such courses.

They will have the option to either take a re-test or forgo the compensatory marks awarded to them for loss of time, the Centre had said.

The opposition MPs have been attacking the government over the issue and demanding justice for students.

Stepping up its attack on the government over the NEET-UG exam issue, the Congress on Friday questioned Modi’s “silence” on the matter and asserted that only a Supreme Court-monitored forensic probe can safeguard the future of lakhs of young students.

ALSO READ-Cong demands SC-monitored probe into NEET-UG exam row

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Education India News Legal

High-level panel urges govt to take steps to eliminate NEET

The committee’s report, derived from comprehensive data analysis and feedback from students, parents, and the public, was shared with various state governments…reports Asian Lite News

Retired Madras High Court judge Justice A K Rajan has urged the Tamil Nadu government to abolish the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) through legal or legislative means and to use higher secondary examination marks as the sole criterion for medical school admissions.

Justice Rajan, who led a high-level committee formed after the DMK came to power in 2021, recommended this to ensure equal opportunities for students from different educational boards through score normalization.

The committee’s report, derived from comprehensive data analysis and feedback from students, parents, and the public, was shared with various state governments to highlight NEET’s detrimental impact on the poor and social justice.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M K Stalin, a vocal opponent of NEET, shared the report on social media to emphasize these points.

The committee recommended immediate action to eliminate NEET, asserting that the state government could leverage specific legal provisions to argue against NEET’s imposition.

They suggested using Act 3 of 2007, which governs admissions to affiliated colleges under the Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, or passing a new act requiring Presidential assent to abolish NEET.

The report emphasized the importance of using higher secondary scores for medical admissions and normalizing these scores across different educational boards to ensure fair opportunities.

It also proposed identifying and mitigating socio-economic and demographic factors that adversely affect disadvantaged students’ performance, possibly through a pre-developed “Adversity Score” framework.

The committee called for educational reforms to foster genuine learning over rote memorization, from curriculum development to teaching methods and assessments.

It also recommended that Tamil Nadu pass legislation to bring deemed universities under state control and obtain Presidential assent.

Following the committee’s recommendations, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a bill seeking exemption from NEET, which is awaiting Presidential approval.

Stalin, highlighting growing national opposition to NEET, shared the committee’s report in multiple languages to raise awareness about NEET’s negative effects.

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Stalin terms NEET ‘knowledge untouchability of 21st Century’

He also questioned as to how students could spend on his/her coaching for two to three years for qualifying in NEET…reports Asian Lite News

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said in the Assembly on Tuesday that NEET was discriminatory towards poor students and termed the examination as “knowledge untouchability of the 21st Century.”

“The fact that those who cannot pay for coaching cannot enter medical education and the fact that only those who can pay for coaching for two to three years alone could enter is in itself knowledge untouchability of the 21st Century,” he said.

He also questioned as to how students could spend on his/her coaching for two to three years for qualifying in NEET. “How can students from the poor and downtrodden background manage? That is the question we keep repeating,” he said.

“Like how restricting entry to dark people is apartheid, not preparing the question paper from the syllabus of the State Board of School Education is discrimination too,” Stalin contended.

The Bill was adopted in September only after a committee headed by the Chief Secretary made recommendations based on the Justice A.K. Rajan Committee’s report, he said. Opinions of about a lakh people were considered before the report was submitted to the government, he said.

“NEET did not fall from the skies. It is a test with many defects that sidelines the poor and the downtrodden, and so, we are opposing it. The question is whether we need NEET, which has sent many students to the graveyard and many to prisons,” Stalin said.

Before moving the Bill in the House, Stalin said he hoped that the Governor would respect the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu and would forward the Bill adopted in the House to the President without any delay.

Recalling former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai’s observations in the House on March 30, 1967, against the post of Governorship, Stalin said: “I really hope that the Governor does not create such a situation.”

Contending that it was the “Constitutional duty of the Governor” to forward the Bill adopted by the House on September 30, 2021 for Presidential assent, he said: “I hope that the Governor will do that duty properly, at least henceforth. That is the duty of the Governor towards the Legislature.”

Contending that NEET was not a system established by the Constitution and not made a part of the Constitution, Stalin pointed out that the Medical Council of India (MCI) mandated the creation of NEET and pointed out that the examination was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court on July 18, 2013.

Charging that NEET was only benefitting private training institutes, Stalin said several lakhs were being collected from students for these exams. “NEET is an impediment to the education of economically weaker students. It becomes a barrier between them and their dreams of becoming doctors,” he said.

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