NEET UG Exam and UGC NET June 2024 Live Updates: 'Probe into alleged irregularities in NEET-UG handed over to CBI for comprehensive investigation,' says education ministry

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday skipped the Delhi University's Yoga Day event where some students held a protest against alleged irregularities in NEET-UG and UGC-NET exams. Pradhan, who was the chief guest for the International Yoga Day event, which was scheduled to begin at 6 am, could not attend it due to "some urgent work", Delhi University (DU) officials said.

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to defer the counselling for the controversy-ridden NEET-UG 2024 examination scheduled to kick off on July 6, saying it is not an "open and shut" process. The apex court issued notices to the National Testing Agency (NTA), the Centre and others on a petition seeking cancellation of the exam over alleged irregularities in holding it on May 5.

Congress on Friday held a demonstration here over the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2024 examinations and demanded a probe under the supervision of a sitting Supreme Court judge. Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, who is also Ludhiana MP, led the protest of the state unit against the alleged irregularities in the medical entrance exam NEET.

Congress will hold nationwide protests on Friday over the ongoing NEET controversy, with the party saying the results of the elite exams are riddled with allegations of irregularities and paper leak, and row over inflated marks, which has put the future of students at risk. AICC general secretary K C Venugopal has written to party state units that "The examination has been plagued by technical glitches, malpractice and unfair means in certain test centres.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday evening addressed the growing concerns regarding the recent cancellation of the UGC-NET exam and the ongoing NEET controversy. In light of alleged paper leaks, the Ministry of Education has taken significant steps to ensure the integrity of these national examinations.

In a recent development on the UGC-NET exam cancellation amid Centre's concerns over its integrity, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed an FIR in connection with the UGC-NET exam paper leak case under sections of criminal conspiracy and cheating.

According to the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) sources, four of the arrested accused have confessed that question papers were arranged for some candidates a day before the exam. The candidates paid around Rs 30-Rs32 lakh for the leaked question papers. The confessions came from Anurag, his uncle Sikandar Yadavendu, and two others — Nitish Kumar and Amit Anand — who are believed to be the masterminds behind the paper leak.

BJP on Thursday said the govt was fully alert and sensitive to the NEET-UG controversy over alleged paper leaks and strict action would be taken against those responsible.

The party, however, questioned Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's silence over a similar paper leak in Rajasthan when Ashok Gehlot was chief minister. It also alleged that one of the masterminds arrested in the case was given shelter by personal staff of Tejashwi Yadav.

"Father Lalu Yadav- fodder scam; son Tejaswi Yadav-NEET paper scam. The whole family is full of scandals. Tejashwi Yadav's PA booked a guest house for Sikandar, who is the same person who leaked the NEET paper," Bihar deputy CM Vijay Sinha said.

Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear National Testing Agency's plea to transfer multiple cases in high courts demanding cancellation of NEET-UG to the apex court even as it refused students' plea to stay counselling for admission in medical colleges.

The SC is flooded with petitions on alleged irregularities in conduct of the test and it issued notices on 13 fresh petitions filed by students and NTA. More than three dozen petitions have been filed by more than 100 students so far in the SC. The court has issued notice on all petitions and clubbed them together to be heard on July 8.

One of the petitioners challenged the decision to hold a re-test for 1,563 students who were earlier granted grace marks for not getting the full time to take the test. However, the vacation bench said all issues relating to NEET-UG 2024 would be heard next month after the summer recess. As the petitioners pressed for interim relief, the court turned it down and told them that if they succeed in the legal battle, then everything will go - the entrance test as well as the admissions.

CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) registers a case against ‘unknown persons’ for compromising the integrity of the UGC NET exam conducted on June 18: CBI

"This is a very serious matter and there should be a high-level probe into this. This issue is connected with Tejashwi Yadav...playing such a game by misusing their position and strangling talented people, this is very unfortunate...once the probe happens, everything will be clear."

"Just because Rahul Gandhi failed for the 3rd time doesn't mean that he can abuse the youth of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh...he said that Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh are epicentres (of paper leaks). If you have some issue with an exam, you can point out its shortcomings but just because you have some personal issues with PM Modi, you make such big allegation against the youth of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat...if there is an epicentre for paper leak in the country, it was Congress' and Ashok Gehlot's govt in Rajasthan."

On Rahul Gandhi's statement over NEET and issue & UGC-NET exam cancellation, BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said, " Govt is fully alert and sensitive over NEET exam. Govt is determined, and won't let any injustice happen to lakhs of students...strict action will be taken against those who are responsible for this...Rahul Gandhi has nothing to do with the future of lakhs of students, he just wants to play his politics on this topic. In Rajasthan, paper leak happened but Rahul Gandhi did not utter a word on it."

On NEET issue & UGC-NET exam cancellation, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury says, "We want a court-monitored investigation. The Vyapam case was also given to the CBI, what happened to that? CBI's specialty is to go after the opposition leaders."

Former Chhattisgarh CM said that "PM Modi has been telling 'Mann Ki Baat', but he didn't listen to Mann Ki Baat of youths. They should have cancelled this (referring to UGC-NET June exam) earlier and apologised to students because they are playing with the future of students."

Tharoor said, "It's shocking. It really shows something fundamentally rotten in the way in which the system is functioning...This is a terrible situation and the government has to get its act together. Because now that they have taken on the responsibility of creating a National Testing Agency and providing these kinds of national examinations and requiring these examinations then they've got to be conducted in a more objective manner. And this ridiculous practice of paper leaks ought to be punished very stringently."

Members of student unions stage protest outside Education Ministry office in Delhi, day after National Testing Agency (NTA) cancels UGC-NET June 2024 exam, citing concerns about 'exam integrity'.

A delegation of NEET aspirants arrives at 10 Janpath to meet Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

"The party is strongly demanding a response from the Prime Minister as he is keeping silent. We will raise this issue in Parliament, we need justice for students. The govt is not even able to conduct an examination, so how can they rule this country?"

"Now nobody in the country is afraid of him (PM Modi). Earlier the chest was 56 inches, but now I cannot give the number, but it has become 30-32...His way of working is to scare people, to intimidate them, now that fear is gone. I don't know if you saw it or not but someone hit him with a 'chappal' in Varanasi. Before the elections, if someone wanted to hit him, there was fear, now that fear has ended. There are internal problems too, there are problems in their party, there are issues in their parent organization. So I want to say that the concept of Narendra Modi has been demolished by the opposition, it has been finished...There is a very strong opposition, so it is a very interesting time."

"Silence (of govt) is because the PM is crippled. Right now, the PM's main agenda is the (election of) Speaker. He is bothered about his govt and Speaker...The PM has psychologically collapsed and he will struggle to run a government like this. Mr Modi's idea of running govt is to generate fear in people. But now people are not scared of him. The basic concept of Modi has been destroyed in this election. If there were Vajpayee ji or Manmohan Singh ji, they might have been able to survive because they had humility, respect and conciliation. But Narendra Modi doesn't believe in all this."

On clean chit to NTA by Union Education Minister in NEET examination, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi says, "They have no credibility in these matters. If they give clean chit, it means nothing, their credibility is zero. Everybody knows that the epicentres are Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh..."

On NEET issue & UGC-NET exam cancellation, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, "...It's happening because all our institutions have been captured. Our Vice-Chancellors are placed not based on merit. But because they belong to a particular organization. And this organization and the BJP have penetrated our education system and destroyed it. What was done by Narendra Modi to the economy with demonetization, has now been done to the education system. The reason this is happening and the reason you're suffering is because an independent, objective education system has been demolished...It is very important that the people who are guilty here are brought to book and they are punished."

"It was said that Narendra Modi Ji stopped the Ukraine conflict, Israel-Gaza war but due to some reason, he is either not able to stop the paper leaks in the country or he doesn't want to stop them. The students end up suffering as this is their future. Vyapam took place in Madhya Pradesh, which is now being spread across the country by Narendra Modi and his government. I talk about institutional capture, media; the same is happening with educational institutions. The reason behind paper leak is that VCs and educational institutions have been captured by BJP people," says Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in a press conference.

Educational institutions captured by RSS-BJP, paper leaks will not stop unless that is reversed: Rahul Gandhi to media

It was being said PM Modi stopped Ukraine-Russia War, but he is either not able to stop exam paper leaks or doesn't want to: Rahul Gandhi

During Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, thousands complained about paper leaks; NEET, UGC-NET papers leaked, UGC-NET cancelled: Rahul Gandhi

On NEET issue & UGC-NET exam cancellation, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, "It was being said that Modi ji stopped Russia-Ukraine war. But due to some reasons, Narendra Modi has not been able to stop or doesn't want to stop paper leaks in India."

Syed Ekram Rizwi, Joint Secretary (Admin) Ministry of Education says, "You can give your memorandum, I will give it to the Union Education Minister. We are committed to resolving your grievances. If you want, a small delegation can meet our officials."

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi accompanied by party leader Jairam Ramesh, arrives at AICC headquarters in Delhi. He will address a press conference shortly.

In a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi accused the government of failing the youth of India amid the controversies surrounding the NEET and UGC-NET exams. Gogoi expressed deep disappointment over the handling of the NEET-UG 2024 exam, which affected 24 lakh candidates, and the UGC-NET exam, impacting 9 lakh students.

"Prime Minister Modi has failed the youth of India. With the NEET exam, 24 lakh people have been disappointed, and through the NET exam, 9 lakh students have been betrayed. Yet the PM chooses to be silent," Gogoi said in a statement.

He further announced that the Congress party, under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, will not let these issues go unnoticed. "Rahul Gandhi and Congress will not let them go. Tomorrow, the Congress party will hold a nationwide protest on this matter. Rahul Gandhi will raise the matter of NEET students in the House," he declared.

The decision by the Ministry comes amid a massive row on the medical entrance exam NEET over alleged irregularities, with the issue now before the Supreme Court.

A day after the UGC-NET was cancelled, Education Ministry officials Thursday said no complaints were received about the exam but a suo motu action was taken on the basis of inputs available with them to protect students' interest.

Education Ministry Joint Secretary Govind Jaiswal said the details of the inputs cannot be shared as the matter has been referred to the CBI and is currently under investigation.

"No complaints were received but the inputs we received from agencies indicated that the integrity of the exam has been compromised. The action was taken suo motu to safeguard interests of the students," he said.

"A fresh date for the exam will be announced soon," Jaiswal told reporters.

Inputs prima facie indicated UGC-NET was compromised, fresh date for exam to be announced soon: Education Ministry officials.

Education ministry officials say no complaints were received about UGC-NET, it was cancelled taking suo motu cognisance of available inputs.

Ministry of Education Joint Secretary Govind Jaiswal says, "9 lakh students had participated in the UGC-NET exam that the NTA conducted on June 18... The ministry saw that there was a chance that the examination had been compromised. The ministry has decided to cancel the examination. The next date will be declared soon. The matter has been referred to the CBI..."

Several members of the Congress-affiliated NSUI were on Thursday detained while protesting outside Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's residence here against the cancellation of the UGC-NET examination.

The Union education ministry late on Wednesday night ordered the cancellation of UGC-NET following inputs of the exam's integrity being compromised

Members of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) led by its national president Varun Choudhary gathered outside Pradhan's residence and demanded a ban on the National Testing Agency (NTA) and a probe into the alleged incidents of paper leak.

The student leaders were seen raising slogans against the alleged corruption in the NTA and the perceived inaction by the education minister.

In a symbolic display of corruption, Choudhary flung a bag full of counterfeit currency in the air and demanded an urgent probe into the matter.

The protesters also demanded an investigation into the irregularities in the NEET-UG examination.

The Supreme Court Thursday sought responses from the Centre, the National Testing Agency (NTA) and others on petitions seeking the cancelation of NEET-UG 2024, and a court-monitored probe into the alleged irregularities in the medical entrance exam.

A vacation bench of Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti also sought responses from the parties on separate pleas filed by the NTA seeking the transfer of some pending petitions from the high courts to the apex court.

The bench posted these pleas for hearing on July 8.

One of the petitions, filed by 20 students who appeared in the medical entrance exam, also sought a direction to the NTA and others to conduct the test afresh.

While hearing separate pleas concerning the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate)-2024 examination, the apex court had on June 18 said even if there was "0.001 per cent negligence" on the part of anyone in the conduct of the examination, it should be thoroughly dealt with.

The NTA conducts the all India pre-medical entrance test.

While hearing separate petitions raising grievances over the NEET-UG 2024, the apex court had last week sought responses from the Centre and the NTA on a plea for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into allegations of question paper leak and other irregularities in the exam.

The examination was held on May 5 across 4,750 centres and around 24 lakh candidates took it.

Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the cancellation of the UGC-NET exam, the Congress on Thursday said every year he conducts a "grand tamasha" of what he calls 'Pareeksha pe Charcha' and yet his government cannot even conduct an examination without leaks and frauds.

The opposition party also asked the prime minister if he would "leak pe speak".

The Union Education Ministry late on Wednesday night ordered cancellation of UGC-NET following inputs of the exam's integrity being compromised.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said every year the PM conducts a "grand tamasha of what he calls 'Pareeksha pe Charcha'."

"Yet, his government cannot even conduct an examination without leaks and frauds," he added.

Ramesh said the NEET UG 2024 Examination faces very serious questions that even the Education Minister has been forced to acknowledge.

The integrity of the National Testing Agency (NTA) is under severe doubt, he said.

Now the UGC-NET conducted just the day before yesterday has been cancelled last night, he said.

In fact, the government has been ruinous for India's education system with the CUET (Common University Entrance Test) making a complete mockery of Class XII exams, Ramesh said.

The professionalism of NCERT, UGC, and CBSE has been destroyed, he claimed.

"The New Education Policy of 2020, rather than preparing India's education system for the future, only serves as the Nagpur Education Policy 2020," he alleged.

"This is the legacy of the MA in Entire Political Science. Will he ever 'Leak pe Speak?'" Ramesh said.

Soon after the cancellation of UGC-NET, the Congress on Wednesday dubbed the Modi government as "paper leak government" and asked whether the education minister would take responsibility now.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge attacked the government over the alleged irregularities in the medical entrance exam NEET, and asked when will Prime Minister hold "NEET pareeksha pe charcha".

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also slammed the government after the Education Ministry ordered the cancellation of UGC-NET and asked for accountability to be fixed.

Amid the ongoing row over NEET-UG 2024, the Congress party urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take responsibility for stopping the paper leaks.

Indian National Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in a post on X referred to the cancellation of the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) as a "victory of spirit" of millions of students.

He further said that it was the "defeat of the Modi government's arrogance."

"You "discuss exams" a lot, when will you "discuss the NEET exam"? Cancellation of the UGC-NET exam is a victory of the spirit of millions of students. This is the defeat of the arrogance of the Modi government due to which they made a despicable attempt to trample the future of our youth," Kharge said in the post.

https://x.com/kharge/status/1803482823418069420

"The Union Education Minister had earlier said that no paper was leaked in NEET. When arrests are made of the education mafia in Bihar, Gujarat and Haryana, the Education Minister accepts that some scam has taken place! When will the NEET exam be cancelled?" he asked.

"Modi Ji, please take the responsibility of stopping your government's rigging and paper leak in NEET exam too!"

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi asked if at least now the accountability be decided.

"The laxity and corruption of the BJP government is fatal for the youth. After the news of the scam in NEET exam, now the NET exam held on June 18 has also been cancelled due to the fear of irregularities," Priyanka said in a post on X.

https://x.com/priyankagandhi/status/1803476538165543195

"Will accountability be fixed now? Will the education minister take responsibility for this lax system?," she said.

The Ministry in a statement on Wednesday said that the issue related to grace marks has already been fully addressed in the matter pertaining to the NEET(UG) -2024.

The Ministry of Education has sought a detailed report from the Economic Offences Unit of the Bihar Police over the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the NEET(UG) examination-2024 in Patna.

It further reiterated that any individual/organization found to be involved in the NEET (UG) Examination 2024 matter, will face the strictest action.

Earlier on June 18, the Supreme Court told the Centre and NTA that if there is any negligence in conducting the NEET-UG, 2024 exam, it should be thoroughly dealt with.

Several petitions were filed in the apex court seeking direction to recall NEET-UG 2024 results and to conduct the examination afresh, alleging paper leakage and malpractices in the test held on May 5. Aspirants have raised the issue of leakage of the question paper, awarding compensatory marks and anomalies in the question of NEET-UG 2024.

The Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, Vijay Kumar Sinha, claimed on Wednesday that Sikandar Yadvendu, who was arrested in the NEET question paper leak case, is a close relative Pritam Kumar, the personal secretary of former Deputy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.

The investigation being conducted by the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police has identified Sikandar Yadvendu, a junior engineer in the municipal committee of Danapur, as the kingpin of the NEET question paper leak case.

“Sikandar Yadvendu is a close relative of Tejashwi Yadav's PS Pritam Kumar. An NHAI guest house was booked for Sikandar's sister Reena Yadav and son Anurag Yadav to stay on May 4. A phone number and 'Mantri Ji' were mentioned in the diary of the NHAI guest house. The investigating agency is making efforts to know the identity of this Mantri Ji,” Sinha said.

Sinha, who also holds the road construction portfolio, said that he has ordered an inquiry into the booking of the NHAI guest house.

“I am getting a thorough investigation done by my department to find out which officers or employees are working at the behest of Tejashwi Yadav. The entire system of RJD is based on crime and corruption,” Sinha said.

The EOU has found evidence that the question papers of NEET 2024 were leaked. The examination was held on May 5 and the question paper was leaked a day earlier on May 4.

The kingpin of this gang is Sikandar Yadavendu, who has been arrested. The EOU claims that Sikandar made his brother-in-law's son and many other candidates memorise the answers by giving them the question paper in advance.

On May 5, the police arrested Reena Yadav from the NHAI guest house. The EOU also found an OMR sheet from the guest house. Reena's son Anurag's name is written in the register of the guest house, with 'Mantri Ji' written next to it.

Sikandar is a resident of Samastipur. He used to work as a contractor in Ranchi. In 2012, he became a junior engineer. He was an accused in the LED scam of Rs 3 crore and served a jail term as well.

The Ministry of education has requested a comprehensive report from the Economic Offences Unit of the Bihar Police concerning alleged irregularities in the NEET (UG) 2024 examination conducted in Patna.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Ministry addressed the issue of grace marks in the NEET (UG) 2024 matter, stating that it has been fully resolved. "As regards certain irregularities alleged in the conduct of the examination in Patna, a detailed report has been sought from the Economic Offences Unit, Bihar Police. The government will take further action upon receipt of this report," the statement noted.

The Ministry further emphasized that any individual or organization found to be involved in malpractice concerning the NEET (UG) 2024 examination will face the strictest action.

Previously, on June 18, the Supreme Court directed the Centre and the NTA to thoroughly address any negligence in conducting the NEET-UG 2024 exam. "If there is 0.001 per cent negligence on the part of anyone, it should be thoroughly dealt with. All these matters ought not to be treated as adversarial litigation," observed a vacation bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti.

Several petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court seeking the cancellation of NEET-UG 2024 results and a fresh examination, citing allegations of paper leakage and malpractices during the May 5 test. Aspirants have raised concerns over the leakage of the question paper, the awarding of compensatory marks, and anomalies in the examination process.

Earlier this month, the NTA informed the Supreme Court that the scorecards of 1,563 NEET-UG 2024 candidates who received grace marks to compensate for lost time during the exam would be cancelled, and these students would be given a chance to reappear for the exam. The NTA stated, "The exam will be conducted on June 23, and the result will be declared before June 30." The Supreme Court had already refused to stay the counselling for NEET-UG 2024.