Rayaz Malik Budhalwi
razver1981@gmail.com
After the enactment of NMC Act 2019, the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) Exam is conducted annually by NTA (National Testing Agency), an organization under the aegis of Ministry of Education, Government of India. NEET is conducted specifically for admission of candidates to medical courses in Undergraduate and Postgraduate level. They include MBBS, BUMS, BAMS, BHMS, BDS and other PG / Specialization Courses in all the medical colleges in India including AIIMS Delhi and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER).
It is pertinent to mention that the aspiring candidates of NEET Exam visit various coaching centers and academies located there in different cities in the country for their stay. They include NCT of Delhi, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Kolkatta and many other metropolitan cities. The candidates alongwith their relatives, siblings and sometimes families move to these cities to get the coaching for NEET. They search for their residences and rent in the flats for a couple of years for their studies and get the coaching. They spend money in lakhs on online and offline coaching and other expenses on boarding, lodging and renting. They withstand and bear the harsh climate including intense heat of summer and chilling cold of winter and manage the hard-earned money of their parents for their expenses. All these hardships are born by them to see the day of night in order to qualify the NEET exam to become a doctor.
But juxtaposing the dilemma of this year, it is to say that the NEET Exam was conducted in pen and paper mode across all the centers in the country in May 2026. The candidates had to travel long distances to reach their centers and appear in the exam. Alongwith their parents and guardians they had to reach atleast one day prior to the date of conduct of test to the Centre and stay in hotels. A huge expense on travel to and fro the Centre and back and on food and lodging was incurred by them in order to appear in the exam. Despite the hot and humid climate, they faced a lot of problems. Some downtrodden families had to manage the money for these expenses by running from pillar to post. If not in lacs of rupees but they incurred in thousands which is very burdensome for the poor and needy families to manage in this sky rocketing price era.
But all the expectations after facing these troubles by them including the families of hardworking candidates were dashed to ground when they learnt that the paper was already leaked. Those who had burnt their midnight oil for the studies and preparation for the said test became anxious as they had used their own mind and written the paper with their own gained knowledge. But those candidates who had managed to buy the paper after its leakage from the given source were much more contented and satisfied. They had already received the paper in advance and prepared accordingly those questions only which were expected in the paper.
One group who was dependent upon their own study and reading was shocked and other one which was the part of this conspiracy was joyful and expecting good marks in the test to be selected for Medical Courses.
But in one or other way, it came to the notice of authorities and police and other investigating agencies. Accordingly, the paper was cancelled by NTA in consultation with the Government of India. The investigation has been started and few culprits behind this crime have been arrested and after being interrogated by the agencies to explore the possibility of more accomplices involved in the paper leakage.
In view of this, following measures can be taken in order to prevent from such malpractices either by private or public individuals in future:
The acronym NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) does not specify any medical association for which it is explicitly conducted. It can relate to any general entrance test but not the medical. It must include a letter which can relate to the medical science. Like MEET (Medical Eligibility cum Entrance Test) or any other such acronym or term can be used so as it suits the nomenclature for entrance test.
* Since NTA conducts more or less dozen entrance tests of different disciplines the individual States / UTs Governments may be authorized to conduct the same. It will help the States more exercise of control on the conduct of test and all allied activities at local and regional level. If not, the central AIIMS Delhi may be entrusted with the job as they have conducted in past as well.
* Strict pre and post arrangements of security, safety and storage of such material and infrastructure for the paper may be put in place by the conducting agency.
* CCTVs and all other means may be used to monitor the activities from the start of activities of printing paper till the declaration of final results.
* Surprise visits by the Observers / Officers of other departments alongwith Police and Flying squad may be paid in all the centers during the day of its conduct.
* Instead of Paper and pen mode / OMR based examinations, CBT (online / instant mode) of exam may be put in place from the next year as affirmed by the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
* Since the scammers have put the future of lakhs of candidates at stake strict and deterrent punishment be given to them. They must be taught a lesson to avoid such activities in future.
(The author is from BGSB University Rajouri)
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