New Delhi: Seeking to reassure the student fraternity and their concerns over the raging NEET-UG controversy, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday reiterated the Central government’s commitment to accountability and fairness, and promised strict action against any official found guilty of malpractice.
“On the recommendations of the Supreme Court, a re-test has been ordered for 1,563 candidates. Irregularities have been found in two places. The government is taking this issue seriously. If any high-ranking officials of the NTA are found guilty, they will face strict consequences. Significant improvements are needed in the NTA. We are committed to ensuring that no wrongdoer escapes punishment,” said Pradhan, who won in the Lok Sabha election from Sambalpur Parliamentary constituency in Odisha.
#WATCH | Sambalpur, Odisha: On the NEET issue, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan says, “On the recommendations of Supreme Court, the order has been given for re-test of 1,563 candidates…Some irregularities have come to light in two places. I assure students and… pic.twitter.com/yrdvdAcn4g
— ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2024
Also Read: NEET Row: Left Students’ Group Calls For Two-day Nationwide Strike
Pradhan had earlier claimed in a press conference that there was no evidence of paper leak in the NEET-UG 2024 entrance exam.
He explained that students who received grace marks did so due to a lack of time, and announced that these 1,563 students have two options — retake the exam on June 23, with new scores issued by June 30, or accept their original scores without grace marks.