Is PM Modi Monitoring Exams Because the Education Ministry Failed?
Has the Central Government indirectly acknowledged that the Ministry of Education has failed miserably in handling the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), the examination conducted for admissions to medical courses? The Centre informed the Supreme Court that the fresh NEET examination, which is being conducted following the paper leak controversy, will be directly monitored by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). What exactly does this imply? Political and bureaucratic circles are debating whether this amounts to an admission that the Union Education Ministry and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan have failed in managing the examination process. The NEET examination was mired in controversy in 2024 as well. Some students had to be given a re-examination due to irregularities. Earlier, in 2015, a paper leak forced authorities to conduct the examination again. In 2016, after an inter-state paper leak incident, the test had to be reconducted in the affected regions.
Critics argue that despite repeated controversies surrounding NEET over the years, the Modi government has displayed alarming negligence in handling an issue that affects the future of millions of students. Even as the NEET controversy continues, another major issue has emerged in the evaluation of CBSE Class 12 examination papers. The newly introduced On-Screen Marking (OSM) system has become highly controversial. Students have alleged serious irregularities, including scanned answer sheets being mixed up, one student's paper being evaluated as another's, and widespread errors in the awarding of marks. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has acknowledged that mistakes occurred and has stated that corrective measures are being taken. However, the combination of the NEET paper leak controversy and the confusion in the CBSE evaluation process has brought severe criticism upon the Union Education Ministry.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has expressed strong displeasure over the handling of the NEET issue and emphasized that authorities must take responsibility in matters affecting the future of millions of students. Adding to the controversy, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has accused the Education Ministry of bypassing leading IT companies and awarding a key contract to an organization linked to promoters of a company that had previously faced allegations of irregularities in Telangana. According to Rahul Gandhi, this decision has unnecessarily subjected students to hardships and further undermined confidence in the examination system. As criticism mounts from the judiciary, opposition parties, students, and parents alike, the Union Education Ministry finds itself under increasing pressure to restore credibility and ensure that such controversies do not recur.
