Finance
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced on Friday that the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET) will move to a computer-based examination paradigm starting next year.
Addressing a news conference in the capital, Pradhan stated that there was an urgent need to conduct the examinations online, implying that the Centre has decided to switch from a paper-based to a computer-based examination paradigm.
Pradhan’s press conference comes after NEET paper leaks and subsequent exam cancellations, which have left lakhs of students nervous, upset, and frustrated with the manner the NTA conducts competitive examinations.
The Education Minister told the press that the Radhakrishnan Committee’s recommendations had been adopted, but acknowledged that a breakdown had occurred somewhere along the line of command. He also confirmed that corrective actions are being made to reinforce the system.
He also described it as a “long and sustained fight” against the country’s education mafia.
He stated that the Central Bureau of Investigation has already initiated a thorough investigation at several levels into the breach and would soon determine how the miscreants and gangsters broke into the “fool-proof” system.
Further assuring students and allaying their apprehensions, he said, “The entire government machinery will ensure no malpractices happen this time.”
He further informed that the National Testing Agency (NTA) will hold the NEET re-examinations on June 21, nearly a month after the original exams. He said that all the candidates and NEET aspirants will receive their admit card by June 14.
“Aspirants will get an opportunity to choose their choice of city for appearing in re-examinations. A window of one week will be given to aspirants,” he stated.
He also stated that pupils will be given 15 minutes extra time to fill out the details on the OMR sheet.
He further stated that the NTA made two choices on the NEET Exam cancelation day, namely, that candidates will be repaid their examination fees, and that no additional fees will be imposed for re-examination.
Source: IANS
