New Delhi: Student organizations of some Indian block parties began their protest at Jantar Mantar here against alleged irregularities in several competitive examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency.

Members of the Left-backed All India Students Association (AISA), Student Federation of India (SFI), All India Students Federation (AISF) as well as Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha and Congress' student wing NSUI have gathered at the protest site. Out March.

The student groups aim to march to Parliament to press for their demands of abolishing the National Testing Agency, resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and decentralization of entrance exams.

Amid criticism over alleged irregularities in the NEET and PhD entrance NET, the Center last week removed National Testing Agency (NTA) Director General Subodh Singh and notified a high-level panel headed by the former Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). Chief R Radhakrishnan was directed to ensure transparent, smooth and fair conduct of examinations through NTA.

While NEET is under investigation for several irregularities, including alleged paper leaks, UGC-NET was canceled after the Education Ministry received inputs that the integrity of the exam was compromised. Both the cases are being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Two other exams – CSIR-UGC NET and NEET-PG – were canceled as a precautionary measure.