NEET-UG 2024 Counselling Delayed Amid Controversy and Protests

The counselling process for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2024 has been postponed until further notice. This decision follows the Supreme Court’s refusal to delay the counselling, which was scheduled to start on July 6.

Political Reactions

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh criticized the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government, stating that the future of many youths is at risk. He expressed his concerns on social media, calling the situation a demonstration of the government’s incompetence and insensitivity.

Government’s Stand

The Central government has argued against scrapping the NEET-UG 2024 exam, stating that there is no substantial evidence of a large-scale breach of confidentiality. The Ministry of Education emphasized that canceling the exam would unfairly affect the many honest candidates who took the test.

Legal Proceedings

The Supreme Court is set to hear the case on July 8. The Ministry of Education and the National Testing Agency (NTA) have both filed affidavits opposing the cancellation of the exam. They argue that the alleged malpractices were limited to centers in Patna and Godhra and should not lead to the cancellation of the entire exam.

Background

The NEET-UG exam, conducted by the NTA, is crucial for admissions into medical and related courses across India. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government is under scrutiny due to irregularities in the exam. An unprecedented 67 students achieved perfect scores, leading to protests and an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).