New Delhi [India], Lashing out at the Bharatiya Janata Party government over the anti-exam paper leakage law that came into force on Friday, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the bill addresses leakages " after the fact," although it is important. to prevent leaks from occurring in the first place.
Terming the bill as a "damage control" to address controversies that have arisen in several recent examinations, the Rajya Sabha MP said the bill received President Murmu's assent in February, while it did not come into valid until June 21.
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 came into force on Friday.
On social media platform the nation has been “I told you that this Act came into force yesterday i.e. June 21, 2024. Clearly, this is damage control to deal with NEET, UGC-NET, CSIR-UGC-NET and other scams."
"This law was necessary. But it deals with leaks after they have occurred. More important are the laws, systems, processes and procedures to ensure that leaks do not happen in the first place," he added.
https://x.com/Jairam_Ramesh/status/1804368331237171525
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 came into force on Friday. Its objective is to avoid unfair means in public examinations and common entrance tests that are carried out throughout the country.
The bill comes amid a massive row over alleged malpractices in the conduct of NEET and UGC NET exams.
The bill was passed by both Houses of Parliament in the Budget session that concluded on February 10. It seeks to avoid the use of "unfair means" in public examinations and provide "greater transparency, equity and credibility."
Public examinations under the Act refer to examinations conducted by authorities notified by the central government. These include the Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission, Railway Recruitment Board, National Testing Agency, Banking Personnel Selection Institute and central government departments and their attached offices for the hiring.
The Act also prohibits early disclosure of confidential information related to examinations and the entry of unauthorized persons into examination centers to create disruptions. The offenses will be punishable with imprisonment of between three and five years and a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh.
The NEET-UG 2024 exam was conducted on May 5 and its results were declared on June 4, ahead of the scheduled announcement date of June 14.
A dispute broke out after allegations of irregularities and document leaks emerged. The results showed that as many as 67 students passed the exam with a perfect score of 720.
Petitions have been filed in court by students requesting retesting. The Supreme Court has allowed more than 1,500 students who received "grace marks" to be retested.
Earlier, the Education Ministry canceled the UGC-NET exam held on June 18 "to ensure the highest level of transparency and sanctity" of the examination process.
On Friday, the NTA also postponed the June 2024 CSIR-UGC-NET joint exam, which was scheduled to be held between June 25 and 27 due to "unavoidable circumstances and logistical issues".
Terming the bill as a "damage control" to address controversies that have arisen in several recent examinations, the Rajya Sabha MP said the bill received President Murmu's assent in February, while it did not come into valid until June 21.
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 came into force on Friday.
On social media platform the nation has been “I told you that this Act came into force yesterday i.e. June 21, 2024. Clearly, this is damage control to deal with NEET, UGC-NET, CSIR-UGC-NET and other scams."
"This law was necessary. But it deals with leaks after they have occurred. More important are the laws, systems, processes and procedures to ensure that leaks do not happen in the first place," he added.
https://x.com/Jairam_Ramesh/status/1804368331237171525
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 came into force on Friday. Its objective is to avoid unfair means in public examinations and common entrance tests that are carried out throughout the country.
The bill comes amid a massive row over alleged malpractices in the conduct of NEET and UGC NET exams.
The bill was passed by both Houses of Parliament in the Budget session that concluded on February 10. It seeks to avoid the use of "unfair means" in public examinations and provide "greater transparency, equity and credibility."
Public examinations under the Act refer to examinations conducted by authorities notified by the central government. These include the Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission, Railway Recruitment Board, National Testing Agency, Banking Personnel Selection Institute and central government departments and their attached offices for the hiring.
The Act also prohibits early disclosure of confidential information related to examinations and the entry of unauthorized persons into examination centers to create disruptions. The offenses will be punishable with imprisonment of between three and five years and a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh.
The NEET-UG 2024 exam was conducted on May 5 and its results were declared on June 4, ahead of the scheduled announcement date of June 14.
A dispute broke out after allegations of irregularities and document leaks emerged. The results showed that as many as 67 students passed the exam with a perfect score of 720.
Petitions have been filed in court by students requesting retesting. The Supreme Court has allowed more than 1,500 students who received "grace marks" to be retested.
Earlier, the Education Ministry canceled the UGC-NET exam held on June 18 "to ensure the highest level of transparency and sanctity" of the examination process.
On Friday, the NTA also postponed the June 2024 CSIR-UGC-NET joint exam, which was scheduled to be held between June 25 and 27 due to "unavoidable circumstances and logistical issues".
