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🇮🇳 India /Culture & Society

Protesters demand Education Minister's resignation over NEET exam 'failures'

From Hindustan Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Students and supporters protested at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities.
  • Protesters cited repeated paper leaks and a lack of accountability from the government and the National Testing Agency (NTA).
  • Participants expressed frustration over the impact of leaks on students' motivation and the perceived inefficiency of exam conducting bodies.

A protest organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi saw students and supporters demanding accountability for alleged examination irregularities, particularly concerning the NEET exam. Protesters called for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Participants voiced concerns over repeated paper leaks and questioned the government's ability to conduct examinations reliably. Hunar Jain, an 18-year-old undergraduate student, shared the emotional toll the NEET paper leak had taken on her friend, stating, "It’s been over a month her family and friends have been counselling her. It’s not just NEET, she has lost motivation to appear for other exams."

A friend took a drop last year for NEET exam. She prepared not just for NEET but several other paramedical courses exam. She was really happy after giving the paper in May and was hopeful. Then we heard the paper had been leaked. It’s been over a month her family and friends have been counselling her. It’s not just NEET, she has lost motivation to appear for other exam.

— Hunar JainAn undergraduate student described the severe impact of the NEET paper leak on her friend's mental state and academic drive.

Ranvijay, a PhD scholar from Jawaharlal Nehru University, criticized the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the exams. "Why can’t they conduct the exam also on their own rather than outsourcing it to an agency that is not accountable to anyone, including the parliament?" he questioned, highlighting the significant taxpayer money spent on exam processes.

Protesters carried placards and used symbolic actions, such as bringing "thali and chammach" (plates and spoons), to draw attention to their grievances. The demonstration drew participants from various parts of the country, including Mumbai and Bihar, underscoring the widespread concern over the integrity of national examinations.

The government has put all its machinery from airlifting Re-NEET paper to banning Telegram. So much money of taxpayers is going into this. Why can’t they conduct the exam also on their own rather than outsourcing it to an agency that is not accountable to anyone, including the parliament?

— RanvijayA PhD scholar criticized the NTA and questioned the government's outsourcing of examination processes.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hindustan Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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