New Delhi: Finally waking up to the finds of Economic Offences Unit (EOU), an investigating agency of Bihar Police, the Union education ministry sought a report from the probe agency regarding alleged irregularities in the conduct of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (UG) 2024 in Patna, officials said.
The Central education ministry swung in to active mode reportedly after the Supreme Court on June 18 categorically told the Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA), the examination conducting authority, that it did not want “even .001% negligence” on the part of anyone in the conduct of the NEET-UG 2024.
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The EOU has arrested as many as 13 persons in connection with the alleged irregularities in NEET UG examination and recovered partially burnt question papers after conducting raid at a locality in Patna. It has also recovered a few cheques purportedly issued to the persons involved in leakage of the question papers. The allegations have led to protests in several cities and the filing of petitions in several high courts as well as the Supreme Court.
“Regarding certain irregularities alleged in the conduct of the examination in Patna, a detailed report has been sought from the Economic Offences Unit, Bihar Police. The government will take further action on receipt of this report,” a senior official of the ministry said.
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NEET-UG 2024 examination was held on May 5 across 4,750 centres and around 24 lakh candidates appeared for it. Its results were expected to be declared on June 14 but were announced on June 4, apparently because the evaluation of the answer sheets was completed earlier.
The officials said that the government is committed to ensuring the sanctity of examinations and protect the interest of students. “Any individual or organisation found involved in this matter will face the strictest action,” the official added.
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Earlier, the Central government and the NTA had on June 13 told the apex court that they had cancelled the grace marks given to 1,563 candidates, who took the examination for admission to MBBS and other such courses. The candidates will have the option to either take a retest or forgo the compensatory marks awarded to them for the loss of time, the Centre had said.
