Subodh Kumar Singh, head of the National Testing Agency (NTA), has been removed from his post on Saturday night due to misconduct accusations related to the NEET-UG and UGC-NET exams. He has been kept on compulsory wait at the Department of Personnel and Training.
Retired 1985 batch officer Pradeep Singh Kharola has assumed the role of interim chief of the NTA until a permanent replacement is appointed or further instructions are issued.
Meanwhile, the Education Ministry has decided to hand over the investigation of irregularities found in the NEET (UG) Examination held on May 5, 2024, in OMR (pen and paper) mode to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after a thorough review.
The Education Ministry underscored the government's unwavering commitment to upholding examination integrity and safeguarding students' interests. It reiterated that stringent action awaits any individuals or entities found culpable of malpractice.
Moreover, the Union Government has enacted the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, aimed at curbing unfair practices in public examinations and addressing associated concerns.
Notably, issues within the NTA have been long-standing, with several groups allegedly involved in the leakage of exam papers. However, the scale of the problem became glaringly apparent this year, following allegations of widespread irregularities in the conduct of the 2024 NEET-UG entrance examinations.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear various complaints against the NEET-UG exam on July 8. Over the past two months, the NTA has faced controversies concerning alleged irregularities and leaks in two major national exams—NEET-UG and UGC-NET.
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