There is hardly an examination held in our country, where the paper is not leaked. The government has failed to safeguard the sanctity of the recruitment or admission tests, whether at central level or at states level. The honest, unemployed youth or the young generation, everywhere is being cheated and the money is making the mare go. Isn’t it the failure of the government or its system? 

Making the future of the youth bleak, just within weeks two major papers held by the central government were leaked one after the other, what it shows?

Accepting the unfair play in NEET and NET examinations and informing about the cancellation of NET examination just held on the previous day, the central government issued a release on June 19 that the National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted the UGC-NET June 2024 Examination in OMR (pen and paper) mode on 18th June, 2024 in two shifts across different cities of the country.

On 19th June, 2024, the University Grants Commission (UGC) received certain inputs from National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs on the Examination. These inputs prima-facie indicate that the integrity of the aforesaid examination may have been compromised.

To ensure the highest level of transparency and sanctity of the examination process, the Ministry of Education, Government of India has decided that the UGC-NET June 2024 Examination be cancelled. A fresh examination shall be conducted, for which information shall be shared separately. Simultaneously, the matter is being handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (C.B.I.) for thorough investigation in the matter.

 The release further divulged that in the matter pertaining to the NEET(UG) Examination-2024, the issue related to grace marks has already been fully addressed. As regards certain irregularities alleged in the conduct of the examination in Patna, a detailed report has been sought from the Economic Offences Unit, Bihar Police. Government will take further action, on receipt of this report.

Government is committed to ensure the sanctity of examinations and protect the interest of students. It is reiterated that any individual/organization found to be involved in this matter will face strictest action.

The General Secretary of the All-India Congress Committee, former Union Minister and newly elected MP from the Sirsa Lok Sabha seat in Haryana, Kumari Selja said that while the investigation into the NEET paper leak was still ongoing, the government has now plunged the future of millions of students into darkness by cancelling the UGC NET June 2024 exam due to a paper leak. The hardworking candidates are left with only tears in their eyes. Who will account for their months of hard work?

Kumari Selja said that the UGC NET exam was held on June 18 and was cancelled on June 19. Over 11 lakh candidates had applied for the exam, and 9 lakh 8 thousand 580 candidates appeared. The UGC NET June 2024 session exam was cancelled by the Ministry of Education due to the suspicion of malpractice in the exam.

Congress @INCIndia on Thursday alleged, “In the last 5 years, 43 recruitment exam papers have been leaked in the country and these paper leaks have directly affected 1.75 crore candidates. Do PM Modi and the education minister understand what millions of youths and their families go through due to paper leaks and exam cancellations?”

Taking a dig at PM Modi, Indian National Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge tweeted on Thursday in Hindi, “What kind of ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ is this, where the paper is leaked every day!  How has the Modi government ruined the country’s education and recruitment system?

Paper leaks, fraud and gross irregularities in NEET, UGC-NET, CUET (Common University Entrance Test) have now been exposed.”

Kharge further adds, “The shower of knowledge on the students by the head of a government which cannot conduct a nationwide examination without any fraud is dishonesty!

Pushing millions of youths into the quagmire of unemployment with false promises, Modi ji was roaming around universities yesterday, under the shadow of the camera!”

Aam Adami Party workers and leaders, while protesting against NEET paper leak in Jalandhar on Wednesday, alleged, “This directly shows failure of BJP govt how Modi govt is messing with lives of hardworking students. But we will continue to do justice to the youth of the country.”

They demanded the resignation of the Prime Minister and the Union Education Minister over the rigging in the NEET exam.

 The leaders of ‘AAP’ said that the rigging in the NEET exam is no less a crime than treason. 24 lakh children have been affected by this.  They alleged that there was rigging at two levels in this exam. First, papers were leaked in Bihar and Gujarat and sold for 50-70 lakhs. After this, NTA wrongly gave grace marks to some students.

AAP leaders alleged that the BJP has an old connection with paper leaks. Papers have been leaked 70 times in the last 7 years in BJP ruled states. This is a very big matter. Therefore, this matter should be looked into directly by the Supreme Court.  

Why the papers leaked out so frequently?

The allegation floating in the air is- Money makes the Mare go.  

Priyanka Chaturvedi, @priyankac19, MP-Rajya Sabha and Deputy Leader-Shiv Sena UBT says, “Bihar’s Economic Offence Unit has caught about 12 of those involved in the interstate paper leak of NEET exam and selling it for 30-32 lakhs to students, they have also given a confessional statement. They have also caught 4 students who have confirmed they bought the entrance test paper.

Shamelessly the education minister continues to defend NTA and denies paper leak. Why is Home Ministry also silent?”

Priyanka Chaturvedi further adds, “Here’s a thread exposing the mismanagement, paper leaks, and rigging of exams conducted by the NTA over the past two years. Read through and reflect on why our government has remained silent on these issues for the last 2-3 years.

Besides the NEET 2024 and UGC-NET, so many more examples to show the Education Emergency that this government has forced on the youth of this country and jeopardised their careers by not taking strong action. Shame on the government and the education minister.”

Will the government curb the menace of paper leakage and take harsh steps by punishing the all involved, whether it’s a government agency or an officer?  

Jag Mohan Thaken is a Senior Journalist, Columnist & Political Analyst, views are personal