Congress Slams Centre for NEET-PG Exam Postponement, Calls for Accountability

NEET-PG, an essential examination for doctors pursuing postgraduate programmes, was initially scheduled for March 3, later postponed to July 7, then moved up to June 23. However, just hours before the exam, the Centre announced its postponement.

In a late-night statement, the government cited concerns over the integrity of competitive examinations as the reason for the postponement.

“Taking into consideration recent allegations regarding the integrity of certain competitive examinations, the Ministry of Health has decided to undertake a thorough assessment of the robustness of processes of NEET-PG Entrance Examination, conducted by the National Board of Examination for medical students. As a precautionary measure, it has been decided to postpone the NEET-PG Entrance Examination, scheduled for June 23, 2024. The new date will be announced soon,” the statement read.

The Health Ministry expressed regret for the inconvenience caused, asserting that the decision was in the best interests of the students.

This postponement marks the third major examination cancellation in a week, following the National Testing Agency’s (NTA) cancellation of the UGC-NET and the postponement of the CSIR-UGC NET, both due to concerns over exam integrity. These disruptions have led to nationwide protests amid growing uncertainty for 24 lakh students affected by irregularities in the NEET UG exam.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge sharply criticized the Centre, stating, “The buck stops at the doorstep of the top echelons of the Modi government. Shuffling bureaucrats is no solution to the endemic problems in the education system rotted by the BJP. NTA was projected as an autonomous body but in reality, serves the devious interests of the BJP/RSS. For students to get justice, the Modi government must be held accountable.”

Kharge further condemned the government’s handling of the situation, noting, “Four examinations have been either cancelled or postponed in the past 10 days. Paper leaks, corruption, irregularities, and the infiltration of the education mafia have plagued our education system. This belated whitewashing exercise is of no consequence as countless youth continue to suffer.”The Centre has handed over the investigation into NEET UG irregularities to the CBI, acknowledging reports of alleged irregularities, cheating, impersonation, and malpractices. As part of corrective measures, the NTA’s Director General Subodh Singh has been dismissed, and a seven-member panel has been set up for exam reforms.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also lambasted the government’s incompetence, claiming that the education system has been destroyed under the Modi administration. “In the BJP’s rule, students have to fight the government instead of focusing on their studies. The government is helpless before the paper leak racket and education mafia. Narendra Modi’s incompetent government is the biggest danger to the future of students. We must save the country’s future,” Gandhi said.

The Sharad Pawar-led faction of the NCP and Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale echoed these sentiments, criticizing the government’s handling of the exam schedules and calling for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.