Lok Sabha Question No. 10 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-22
Subject: Paper Leaks in India in Last 10 Years & Judicial Enquiry in NEET
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Benny Behanan, Dr. Mohammad Jawed, Dr. T Sumathy Alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian, Thiru D M Kathir Anand, Adv Dean Kuriakose, Smt. Mala Roy, Shri Raja A, Shri Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, Shri Hibi Eden, Shri M K Raghavan, Shri Gaurav Gogoi, Shri Anand Bhadauria, Shri Vishaldada Prakashbapu Patil, Shri K Sudhakaran, Shri K Radhakrishnan, Shri Sukhdeo Bhagat, Dr. Kalanidhi Veeraswamy, Com. Selvaraj V, Shri Hanuman Beniwal, Shri Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth, Shri Subbarayan K, Shri S Venkatesan, Dr. Kirsan Namdeo, Adv. Adoor Prakash, Shri K C Venugopal, Smt. Sajda Ahmed, Prof. Sougata Ray, Dr. Amar Singh, Shri Anto Antony, Shri Pradyut Bordoloi, Ms. S Jothimani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 10 ANSWERED ON 22.07.2024

## Paper Leaks in India in Last 10 Years & Judicial Enquiry in NEET

10. DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED:

DR. T SUMATHY ALIAS THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN:

THIRU D M KATHIR ANAND:

ADV DEAN KURIAKOSE:

SMT. MALA ROY:

SHRI RAJA A:

SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA:

SHRI HIBI EDEN:

SHRI M K RAGHAVAN:

SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

SHRI ANAND BHADAURIA:

SHRI VISHALDADA PRAKASHBAPU PATIL:

SHRI K SUDHAKARAN:

SHRI K RADHAKRISHNAN:

SHRI SUKHDEO BHAGAT:

DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY:

COM. SELVARAJ V:

SHRI HANUMAN BENIWAL:

SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH:

SHRI SUBBARAYAN K:

SHRI S VENKATESAN:

DR. KIRSAN NAMDEO:

ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:

SHRI K C VENUGOPAL:

SMT. SAJDA AHMED:

PROF. SOUGATA RAY:

DR. AMAR SINGH:

SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI:

MS. S JOTHIMANI:

SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has any record of paper leaks in examinations conducted by central agencies, if so the details of such paper leaks in the last 10 years;
- (b)  whether the Government have justifications for the mismanagement and alleged manipulation of results  in  the  recently  conducted  National  Eligibility  cum  Entrance  Test  (NEET)  exams  in  the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government conducted any enquiry into the workings of the National Testing Agency (NTA) due to the rise in complaints of mismanagement, especially after the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) and NEET exams, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  counselling  is  likely  to  be  cancelled  and  old  system  would  be  restored  as  Pre-NEET period in view of large scale protest by student community;
- (e)  the details related to the results of students who appeared in the examination outside their home state  such  as  marks,  name,  rank,  category  etc.  in  the  result  of  NEET  exam  declared  on  24th June, 2024;
- (f) whether despite earning a huge amount through the fee taken from the candidates for different examination, NTA sources various tables to private agencies and if so, the details of the works outsourced to private agencies and the reasons therefor;
- (g) whether  there  is  a  growing  demand  from  various  States  including  the  State  of  Tamil  Nadu  to scrap  NEET  examinations  leaving  the  admission  process  in  Medical  colleges  to  the  State Governments and the stance of the Union Government; and
- (h)  whether the Government has finalized dates for the NEET PG exams to be announced, without further delays?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)

(a)  to (h) Competitive Examinations are conducted by different bodies for Recruitment as well as for admission  to  Higher  Educational  Institutions.  Data  regarding  examination  specific  incidents  is  not maintained centrally in the Ministry.

National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted NEET(UG) Examination on 5th May 2024 in OMR (Pen and paper) mode. After the conduct of the examination, certain cases of alleged irregularities/cheating/malpractices  were  reported.  In  only  one  instance,  there  has  been  a  likely breach  of  chain  of  custody  of  Question  Paper.  The  Ministry  of  Education  has  asked  the  Central Bureau of Investigation  to  conduct  a  comprehensive  investigation  into  the  entire  gamut  of  alleged irregularities  including  conspiracy,  cheating,  breach  of  trust  etc.  There  is  no  material  on  record  to indicate any proof of any large-scale breach of confidentiality in this pan India examination.

The Ministry of Education has constituted a High-Level Committee of Experts on 22.6.24 to suggest effective measures for transparent, smooth and fair conduct of examinations by the National Testing Agency.  The  Committee  shall  make  recommendations  on  Reforms  in  mechanism  of  examination process, Improvement in Data Security protocols and Structure and functioning of National Testing Agency and shall submit its Report in two months.

In compliance of directions of Hon'ble Supreme Court issued vide order dated 18.7.2024 in WP (Civil) No. 335/2024, NTA has uploaded marks secured by all candidates on its website city wise & centre wise, without disclosing the identity of candidates.

Considering  the  sensitivity  involved  in  competitive  examinations,  various  operational  and  security measures are undertaken for their smooth and fair conduct. Such measures involve engagement of specialised agencies for providing services like capturing of Biometric, Frisking, CCTV surveillance, AI  Analytics  with  a  view  to  identify  potential  impersonation,  exam  delivery  etc.  The  expenditure incurred on the aforementioned activities is met from the registration fees collected.

NEET(UG) Examination has been introduced for the standardization of admission to undergraduate medical  courses  in  the  country.  NEET(UG)  seeks  to  uphold  merit  and  to  prevent  exploitation, profiteering, and commercialisation of education. Currently, there is no proposal under consideration to scrap NEET(UG) Examination.

National  Board  of  Examinations  in  Medical  Sciences  (NBEMS)  has  already  notified  the  date  for conduct of NEET-PG 2024 as 11th August 2024.

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