New Delhi: The Center on Saturday night announced that the probe into alleged irregularities in the NEET medical entrance exam will be handed over to the CBI for a thorough investigation.
The development came amid a flurry of decisions over alleged irregularities in competitive exams, including the removal of National Testing Agency (NTA) director general Subodh Singh and the creation of a seven-member panel headed by the former ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan to reform exams.
“Certain cases of alleged irregularities, cheating, impersonation and malpractices have been reported in the NEET-UG conducted on May 5.
"To ensure transparency in the conduct of the examination process, after a review it was decided that the matter would be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for thorough investigation," a senior Education Ministry official said.
The government is committed to ensuring the sanctity of examinations and protecting the interests of students, the official said, adding that any individual or organization found involved in irregularities will face the strictest measures.
The exam was held on May 5 at 4,750 centers and around 24 lakh candidates appeared. The results were expected to be declared on June 14, but were announced on June 4.
Accusations of irregularities have sparked protests in several cities, litigation and clashes between rival political parties.
A fresh plea has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking directions to the CBI and ED to investigate the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG.
The petition, filed by 10 students who had appeared for the exam, also sought directions to the Bihar police to expedite investigation into the case and submit a report before the high court.
Earlier, the top court had sought responses from the Centre, NTA and others on a host of petitions, including those seeking scrapping of the NEET-UG 2024 exam and a court-monitored inquiry.
The top court had also stayed other proceedings on similar grounds pending before different high courts.
As many as 67 students scored a perfect score of 720, unprecedented in the history of the NTA, and six from a center in Haryana's Faridabad figure in the list, raising suspicions of irregularities.
There was also controversy over grace marks given to students to compensate for lost time at six centres. The Center later told the high court that grace marks are being removed and these students would be given the option to retake the test.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct the new test for these 1,563 candidates on Sunday.
The NTA conducts the NEET-UG exam for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.
The development came amid a flurry of decisions over alleged irregularities in competitive exams, including the removal of National Testing Agency (NTA) director general Subodh Singh and the creation of a seven-member panel headed by the former ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan to reform exams.
“Certain cases of alleged irregularities, cheating, impersonation and malpractices have been reported in the NEET-UG conducted on May 5.
"To ensure transparency in the conduct of the examination process, after a review it was decided that the matter would be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for thorough investigation," a senior Education Ministry official said.
The government is committed to ensuring the sanctity of examinations and protecting the interests of students, the official said, adding that any individual or organization found involved in irregularities will face the strictest measures.
The exam was held on May 5 at 4,750 centers and around 24 lakh candidates appeared. The results were expected to be declared on June 14, but were announced on June 4.
Accusations of irregularities have sparked protests in several cities, litigation and clashes between rival political parties.
A fresh plea has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking directions to the CBI and ED to investigate the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG.
The petition, filed by 10 students who had appeared for the exam, also sought directions to the Bihar police to expedite investigation into the case and submit a report before the high court.
Earlier, the top court had sought responses from the Centre, NTA and others on a host of petitions, including those seeking scrapping of the NEET-UG 2024 exam and a court-monitored inquiry.
The top court had also stayed other proceedings on similar grounds pending before different high courts.
As many as 67 students scored a perfect score of 720, unprecedented in the history of the NTA, and six from a center in Haryana's Faridabad figure in the list, raising suspicions of irregularities.
There was also controversy over grace marks given to students to compensate for lost time at six centres. The Center later told the high court that grace marks are being removed and these students would be given the option to retake the test.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct the new test for these 1,563 candidates on Sunday.
The NTA conducts the NEET-UG exam for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.
