CBI to probe alleged irregularities in NEET-UG exam | News from India

NEW DELHI: The Central government on Saturday handed over the probe into alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2024 exam to the Central Bureau of Investigation for further investigation.

“Some cases of alleged irregularities, cheating, impersonation and malpractices were reported during the NEET-UG held on May 5,” an education ministry official said.

“For the sake of transparency on the conduct of the examination process, it has been decided after examination that the matter will be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for further investigation,” the official added.

This came after NTA Director General Subodh Kumar Singh was removed from his post and put on “compulsory standby” at DoPT.

Pradeep Singh Kharola has been given the additional responsibility of the post of Director General of the National Testing Agency (NTA).

In a press release issued on Wednesday, the Education Ministry said, “As far as the NEET(UG)-2024 examination is concerned, the issue related to pardons has already been fully resolved. With regard to certain alleged irregularities in the conduct of the examination in Patna, a detailed report has been sought from the Economic Offenses Unit, the Bihar Police will take further action on receipt of this report.

This happened after the NTA decided to withdraw grace marks awarded to 1,563 students. This gave candidates the opportunity to take a new test.

The NEET (UG) 2024 exam, conducted by the NTA on May 5 at 4,750 centers, saw around 24 lakh candidates participating. Originally scheduled for June 14, the results were released on June 4, probably due to the rapid completion of the answer sheet evaluations.

Several petitions have been filed, including by Alakh Pandey, CEO of EdTech company 'Physics Wallah', challenging the NTA's alleged random allocation of grace marks to over 1,500 NEET-UG 2024 candidates.