New Delhi, Centre's decision to now implement a law to prevent use of unfair means in examinations after several "scams" including NEET-UG and UGC-NET tests have taken place, is "damage control "Congress leader Jairam Ramesh stated on Saturday.
This law was necessary, but it deals with questionnaire leaks and other irregularities after they have occurred, he stated in a post on X.
Various opposition political parties and student associations, including the Congress, have staged nationwide protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG and UGC-NET medical entrance exam.
Amid the raging dispute over the issue, the Center on Friday implemented the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which aims to curb malpractices and irregularities in examinations and makes provisions for a penalty maximum prison sentence of 10 years and a fine. up to Rs 1 million for violators.
The bill received the president's assent on February 13 but did not come into effect until Friday, said Ramesh, Congress general secretary, communications.
"On February 13, 2024, the President of India gave her consent to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024. Finally, this morning the nation was informed that this law came into force yesterday , which is June 21, 2024," he said.
"Clearly this is damage control to tackle NEET, UGC-NET, CSIR-UGC-NET and other scams," the Congress leader said, adding, "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 occur," he said.
The National Testing Agency, which conducts the competitive exams, on Friday announced the postponement of the June edition of the National Eligibility Test of the Joint Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and the University Grants Commission, citing unavoidable circumstances and logistical problems. .
It came two days after the agency canceled the UGC-NET exam within 24 hours of its conduct, saying that the integrity of the exam had been compromised, and a massive dispute between NEET over alleged irregularities, with the issue now before the Supreme Court.
This law was necessary, but it deals with questionnaire leaks and other irregularities after they have occurred, he stated in a post on X.
Various opposition political parties and student associations, including the Congress, have staged nationwide protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG and UGC-NET medical entrance exam.
Amid the raging dispute over the issue, the Center on Friday implemented the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which aims to curb malpractices and irregularities in examinations and makes provisions for a penalty maximum prison sentence of 10 years and a fine. up to Rs 1 million for violators.
The bill received the president's assent on February 13 but did not come into effect until Friday, said Ramesh, Congress general secretary, communications.
"On February 13, 2024, the President of India gave her consent to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024. Finally, this morning the nation was informed that this law came into force yesterday , which is June 21, 2024," he said.
"Clearly this is damage control to tackle NEET, UGC-NET, CSIR-UGC-NET and other scams," the Congress leader said, adding, "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 occur," he said.
The National Testing Agency, which conducts the competitive exams, on Friday announced the postponement of the June edition of the National Eligibility Test of the Joint Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and the University Grants Commission, citing unavoidable circumstances and logistical problems. .
It came two days after the agency canceled the UGC-NET exam within 24 hours of its conduct, saying that the integrity of the exam had been compromised, and a massive dispute between NEET over alleged irregularities, with the issue now before the Supreme Court.
