NEET UG 2024 controversy update: Amid the ongoing controversy over “cheating” in NEET-UG and cancellation of the UGC NET exam, the central government on Friday announced the implementation of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. The Act, which aims to prevent cheating in public examinations and common entrance tests conducted across the country, will come into force on Friday.
Thousands of students have taken to the streets in opposition to this year's exams amid allegations that NEET-UG exam questions were leaked, sparking weeks of protests across India (File)
What does the new law provide?
The Act defines civil service examination as one conducted by authorities designated by the Central Government, which includes various organisations such as the Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Board, Railway Recruitment Board, National Examination Authority, Banking Personnel Selection Association, departments and departments of the Central Government concerned for recruitment purposes.
In addition, the Act prohibits premature disclosure of confidential exam-related information and entry of unauthorized persons into exam centres and creating disturbance. The Act provides for stringent penalties, including imprisonment of up to 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 10 million, for those involved in these offences.
The bill was approved by both the Houses of Parliament during the budget session that ended on February 10. Its main objective is to curb the use of “unfair means” in public examinations and “enhance transparency, fairness and credibility”.
All the offences prescribed in the Bill will be deemed triable, non-bailable and non-compoundable.
Net UGC/CSIR Net UGC
The CSIR UGC-NET exam has been postponed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) due to “unavoidable circumstances” and “logistical issues”, as announced on Friday.
The Centre on Wednesday announced the cancellation of the UGC-NET exam, which was held on June 18, after initial indications raised questions about the reliability of the exam.
UGC-NET examines the eligibility of Indian nationals for positions like 'Assistant Professor' and 'Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor' in universities and colleges across India.
NEET controversy
The NEET results, released on June 4, saw an unprecedented event in NTA history, with 67 students securing a perfect score of 720 marks. Six students from a centre in Faridabad, Haryana, were on the list, raising fears of possible rigging. Allegations were that preferential marks could have been included, meaning the 67 students could have shared the top rank.
The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a request to stay the NEET-UG counselling process scheduled to begin on July 6, observing that the process is not straightforward.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) is preparing to hold a retake of the medical entrance exam on Sunday for 1,563 candidates who were earlier given grace marks to make up for lost time at six exam centres.
Check out all the updates here:
June 22, 2024 (Saturday) 10:43 AM
NEET UG 2024 controversy update: Rahul Gandhi says he will 'raise the issue in Parliament'
NEET UG 2024 controversy updates: The Indian National Congress on Friday staged nationwide protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET medical entrance exam, with Rahul Gandhi vowing to personally address the issue in Parliament and asserting that the Opposition will pressurise the government to ensure justice for students.
Rahul Gandhi has criticised the Indian government over the alleged cheating in NEET and reiterated his resolve to raise the issue in Parliament. On Thursday, amid the ongoing controversy over the NEET-UG 2024 exam, he released a video of his discussion with a group of NEET candidates and their parents.
June 22, 2024 (Saturday) 10:18 AM
NEET UG 2024 Row Live Updates: Why Did NTA Postpone the Exam?
NEET UG 2024 exam update: The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Friday announced that the joint CSIR-UGC NET exam, initially scheduled from June 25 to June 27, 2024, has been postponed.
Applicants are advised to check the official website (https://csimnet.nta.ac.in) for the latest updates. In case of queries, they can contact the NTA Help Desk at 011-40759000 or 011-69227700 or email at csimet@nta.ac.in. For more details click here
Saturday, June 22, 2024 9:50 AM
NEET UG 2024 controversy update: Kharge accuses BJP of 'ruining' future of 20 million youth in seven years
Update on the NEET UG 2024 racket: “Under the BJP government, the education mafia is free to carry out its corruption. 70 exam papers have been leaked in seven years, ruining the future of 20 million young people. The NEET exam paper leak scam is a symbol of the Modi government's complete apathy towards the youth,” Indian National Congress Party leader Mallikarjun Kharge posted on X on Friday.
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June 22, 2024 (Saturday) 9:37 AM
NEET UG 2024 controversy live updates: Indian National Congress leader Digvijaya Singh slams BJP
NEET UG 2024 controversy updates: Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and Indian National Congress Party leader Digvijay Singh has slammed the BJP government and alleged that the country has witnessed a number of scams ever since the party came to power.
In his speech, Singh targeted the central government and said, “Ever since the BJP came to power, several scams have taken place in the country. The Prime Minister has never addressed these scams.”
“Be it Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh or Madhya Pradesh, recruitment practices under the BJP governments have been marked by scandals,” he added.
Singh also referred to the RSS and said, “Where are the responsible people for protecting Hindus? Of the 1.4 million students who appeared for the NEET exam, 5 to 10 per cent may be Muslim, but the majority are Hindus. Isn't this an injustice against Hindus? The RSS and the Prime Minister have remained silent on the issue.”
June 22, 2024 (Saturday) 9:07 AM
NEET UG 2024 controversy update: ABVP burns NTA effigy in Telangana
NEET UG 2024 Protest Live Updates: The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Friday protested against the National Testing Agency (NTA) at Osmania University, Hyderabad, over the alleged rigging in the NEET-UG exams and the subsequent cancellation of the UGC-NET exams.
During the protest, students burned an effigy symbolizing the NTA.
The protest was triggered by recent irregularities and document leaks in exams conducted by the NTA.
The Ministry of Education on Wednesday took the step of cancelling the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) examinations that were scheduled to be conducted by the NTA on June 18.
June 22, 2024 (Saturday) 8:52 AM
NEET UG 2024 controversy update: Rajya Sabha CPI(M) MP writes to Education Minister
Update on NEET UG 2024 controversy: Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas on Friday wrote to Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan expressing concerns over the NEET and UGC-NET exams and alleging “saffronisation of education by the BJP-led government”.
In his letter with Pradhan, CPI(M) MP Britas urged for the abolition of the centralised NEET and suggested restricting its applicability to central medical institutes like AIIMS, PGIMER, JIPMER etc. He also called for a thorough review of NET to restore autonomy to universities and maintain academic standards and transparency.
Britas criticised NEET and UGC-NET, pointing out issues like leaking of question papers, arbitrary allocation of merit marks and alleged “saffronisation” of the exam content.
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June 22, 2024 (Saturday) 8:38 AM
NEET UG 2024 controversy live updates: NEET retest conducted in seven centres, education ministry officials present
NEET UG 2024 exam updates: The NEET-UG re-examination for 1,563 candidates has been scheduled for Sunday. According to a report by news agency PTI, officials from the NTA and the Federal Ministry of Education will be present at the exam centres.
The decision to hold the re-exam comes after authorities cancelled the grace marks earlier awarded to students to make up for loss of time caused by the delay in the start of exams at six exam centres in the states of Meghalaya, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Chandigarh.
Saturday, June 22, 2024, 8:30 a.m.
Live updates on NEET UG 2024 controversy: Indian National Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's interaction with NEET UG aspirants
Saturday, June 22, 2024 8:20 a.m.
NEET UG 2024 controversy update: Priyanka Gandhi slams central govt for 'paper leak'
NEET UG 2024 controversy update: Indian National Congress Party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has slammed the central government for rampant “exam question leaks”, saying that under the BJP government, the issue has escalated into a national concern, affecting the future of millions of young people.
Priyanka Gandhi's accusation comes amid widespread criticism over allegations of irregularities in the NEET medical entrance test and the abrupt cancellation of the UGC-NET exam on Wednesday amid concerns that the exam's credibility had been compromised.
In a statement shared on social media platform X, Priyanka Gandhi said the Indian National Congress called for swift and strict action to address the “NEET scam” and ensure justice to the 2.4 million affected students. Read More
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June 22, 2024 (Saturday) 8:08 AM
NEET UG 2024 controversy update: NSUI protests in Jaipur over 'irregularities' in NEET, UGC-NET
NEET UG 2024 controversy update: According to ANI, members of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) on Friday staged a protest in Jaipur over the NEET and UGC-NET issues.
Rajasthan NSUI president Vinod Jakhar addressed the media and urged them to take firm action against those responsible for the irregularities in NEET and UGC-NET.
“We will immediately invalidate the exam (NEET-UG), conduct re-examination and take strict action against those responsible,” Rajasthan NSUI president Vinod Jakhar said.
The protests were sparked by a series of recent scandals involving irregularities and leaked documents in examinations conducted by the National Tax Agency.
June 22, 2024 (Saturday) 7:49 AM
NEET UG 2024 controversy update: Amid massive protests, Central government implements 'Prevention of Leakage of Documents Act'
NEET UG / NET UGC Controversy Update: A gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions states, “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of Section 1 of the Civil Services Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 (No. 1 of 2024), the Central Government hereby appoints 21st June, 2024 as the date on which the provisions of the Act will come into force.”
The bill was approved by both houses of Parliament during the budget session that ended on February 10. Its objective is to prevent the use of “unfair means” in public examinations.
On February 13, President Drupadi Murmu had approved the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, which aims to curb malpractice in government recruitment exams.