Indian govt to form high-level committee in response to NEET paper leak

In a significant development following the NEET paper leak incident, the Indian government has announced the formation of a high-level committee to review and enhance the operations of the National Testing Agency (NTA). Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, addressing the media on Thursday, June 20, emphasized the government’s commitment to conducting zero-error examinations and improving the transparency and security of the examination process.

Minister Pradhan outlined the government’s resolution to uphold examination standards and ensure the rights of students are protected. “We are committed to holding zero-error exams, and a high-level committee is being formed to improve NTA functioning,” Pradhan stated. He further highlighted that stringent actions would be enforced against any NTA officials found culpable in the malpractices.

The review by the high-level committee will focus on several key areas including the structural and functional enhancement of the NTA, examination processes, transparency measures, and data security protocols. The initiative follows reports of the NEET paper leak being restricted to a specific region, with inputs from the Bihar government and ongoing investigations by Patna Police.

The scandal has also impacted other national examinations, leading to the cancellation of the UGC-NET exam after it was reportedly leaked on the Darknet. “Specific question paper is there on the Darknet. This input has been given by the Home Ministry’s prestigious organization I4C,” Pradhan explained. The discovery prompted a reevaluation of security protocols for handling sensitive examination materials.

The Education Ministry has assured that the examinations will be rescheduled promptly, with an emphasis on minimizing student burden while maintaining high standards of quality and transparency. The rescheduled dates for the UGC-NET exam and additional measures to prevent future leaks will be announced in due course.

The formation of the high-level committee and subsequent security enhancements are critical steps in restoring faith in India’s examination systems. These measures are expected to not only address the immediate issues but also establish long-term improvements in how national examinations are conducted and secured.

This decisive action by the Indian government underscores its dedication to maintaining the integrity of the nation’s educational assessments and its readiness to implement robust measures to safeguard against future breaches.