What govt said: “National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted NEET(UG) Examination on 5th May 2024 in OMR (Pen and paper) mode. Certain cases of alleged irregularities / cheating / impersonation / malpractices have been re- ported. For transparency on the conduct of the examination process, the Ministry of Education, Government of India after a review has decided to entrust the matter to the CBI for comprehensive investigation.”
- “Central Government has also enacted the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, to prevent unfair means in the public examinations and to provide for matter connected therewith or incidental thereto”.
- This comes days after the CBI, on June 20, registered an FIR into the UGC-NET paper leak case against unidentified persons on a reference from the Union Education Ministry.
Arrest in ‘paper leak’:
Ravi Atri, from Neemka village in Greater Noida, was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) for his role in the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak, as per NDTV.
- Atri has a history of involvement in exam paper leaks dating back to his 2012 arrest by the Delhi Police Crime Branch.
- The Bihar Police expanded its investigation beyond state borders, leading to Atri’s capture.
Furthermore, the Health Ministry postponed the NEET-PG exam scheduled for June 23, cit- ing the need for a thorough assessment of the examination process.
- Subodh Kumar Singh, the Director-General of the National Testing Agency (NTA), has been removed from his position following allegations of irregularities in NEET-UG.
- An expert panel chaired by former ISRO chief K. Radhakrishnan has been set up to recom- mend reforms for the NTA, including data security improvements.
- Pradeep Singh Kharola has been appointed as the interim head of the NTA, replacing Subodh Kumar Singh.