Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on [current date/recent date, e.g., June 22, 2024] criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the ongoing controversy surrounding the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2024 examination, specifically questioning the continued tenure of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Speaking in New Delhi, Mr. Gandhi demanded accountability from the government for the alleged irregularities and paper leaks that have affected over 2.4 million aspiring medical students across India.

The criticism from the opposition comes amidst widespread protests and legal challenges following the NEET-UG 2024 results, which were declared on June 4, 2024. The examination, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 5, 2024, is the gateway for admission to undergraduate medical courses (MBBS, BDS, AYUSH) in the country. The controversy escalated due to several factors, including an unusually high number of candidates achieving perfect scores, allegations of paper leaks, and the awarding of grace marks to certain students.

Mr. Gandhi highlighted the distress faced by millions of students and their families, asserting that the future of these individuals has been compromised by systemic failures. He called for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) inquiry into the matter, emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation to ensure justice for affected students and restore faith in the examination system. He further linked the NEET-UG controversy to other recent examination irregularities, such as the cancellation of the UGC-NET exam and the postponement of the CSIR-UGC NET, suggesting a broader pattern of mismanagement in competitive examinations.

The NEET-UG 2024 results revealed that 67 candidates secured a perfect score of 720 out of 720, a significant increase from previous years. Additionally, the NTA announced that 1,563 candidates were awarded compensatory or grace marks due to reported loss of examination time at various centers. Following public outcry and petitions filed in the Supreme Court, the Centre informed the apex court on June 13, 2024, that the grace marks awarded to these 1,563 candidates would be cancelled, and they would be given the option to re-appear for the examination on June 23, 2024, or proceed without the compensatory marks.

Key details surrounding the NEET-UG 2024 controversy include:

  • Total Candidates: Approximately 2.4 million students appeared for the NEET-UG 2024 examination.
  • Examination Date: May 5, 2024.
  • Result Declaration Date: June 4, 2024.
  • Perfect Scores: 67 candidates achieved a score of 720/720.
  • Grace Marks: 1,563 candidates were initially awarded grace marks, which have since been cancelled by the NTA.
  • Re-examination: A re-examination for the 1,563 affected candidates is scheduled for June 23, 2024.
  • Investigations: Police investigations are ongoing in states like Bihar and Gujarat following arrests related to alleged paper leaks.
  • Legislative Action: The Indian government recently enacted The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which aims to curb malpractices in public examinations.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had initially stated there was no evidence of a paper leak, though he later acknowledged "some irregularities in specific regions." The Supreme Court is actively hearing multiple petitions regarding the NEET-UG 2024 results, with the next hearing scheduled for July 8, 2024. The ongoing investigations and the re-examination process for the 1,563 candidates are critical next steps, as political pressure mounts for greater transparency and accountability from the government regarding the integrity of national competitive examinations.