Mumbai: Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) has claimed that postponing the NEET-PG entrance exam is a "failure" of the Center and accused the government of playing with the lives of candidates.

The opposition party also demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over "irregularities and malpractices" in the examination process.

"The government is playing with the lives and future of children due to its inability to do its job," NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) national spokesperson Clyde Crasto claimed in a statement on Saturday.

The Union Health Ministry on Saturday said it has decided to postpone the NEET-PG entrance exam scheduled for Sunday as a "precautionary measure" in view of recent allegations over the sanctity of some competitive exams.

This is the fourth entrance exam to be affected in recent times.

Reacting to the removal of National Testing Agency (NTA) Director General Subodh Singh amid controversy over alleged irregularities in competitive exams NEET and NET, Crasto said Pradhan cannot absolve himself of failure in performing his duty.

“He should also step down as minister and accept accountability for all the irregularities and malpractices in the examination process in our country,” Crasto said.