NEET UG 2024 Row: Investigation into 'alleged irregularities' handed over to CBI, education ministry says

The Education Ministry today late night referred the matter of alleged irregularities in the NEET (UG) 2024 exam to the CBI for “thorough investigation”. In a statement, the ministry said that “for the sake of transparency on the conduct of the examination process, the Ministry of Education, after a review, has decided to hand over the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a thorough investigation.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted NEET(UG) on May 5, 2024, in pen and paper mode and the result was declared on June 4.

“Some cases of alleged irregularities, cheating, impersonation and malpractices were reported in the NEET-UG which was held on May 5. For the sake of transparency on the conduct of the examination process, it was decided after consideration that the case would be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for further investigation,” according to a statement from the education ministry.

The development came amid a flurry of decisions over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including the removal of National Testing Agency (NTA) director general Subodh Singh and the creation of a seven-member committee led by former ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan to reform exams. .

The NEET issue has given rise to nationwide protests. The Center also enacted the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, to prevent unfair means in public examinations and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

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Meanwhile, the government has also postponed the NEET PG exam which was scheduled to be held on June 23.