Supreme Court Directs NTA to Rectify NEET-UG Exam System Deficiencies
Claim: The Supreme Court has directed the National Testing Agency (NTA) to rectify deficiencies in the NEET-UG exam system, including using technology to prevent paper leaks.
Verdict: True
Details:
- Supreme Court Directive:
- The Supreme Court has indeed directed the NTA to address deficiencies in the NEET-UG exam system. This includes using technology to identify and rectify faults in its cybersecurity profile to prevent paper leaks.
- Avoiding “Flip-Flops”:
- The court emphasized the need for the NTA to avoid inconsistencies, referred to as “flip-flops,” in the context of the NEET exam. The exam, held on May 5, faced issues when results were declared a month later. The court stated that such inconsistencies do not serve students’ interests.
- Committee Formation:
- A seven-member committee, led by ex-ISRO chief Dr. K. Radhakrishnan and including former AIIMS (Delhi) Director Dr. Randeep Guleria, has been formed. The committee has been given until September 30 to present its report on the examination process and suggest improvements.
- Committee’s Mandate:
- The committee is tasked with analyzing the entire examination process and suggesting changes to make it more efficient. The Ministry of Education is required to report compliance with the committee’s recommendations within two weeks of receiving the report.
- Guidelines for the Committee:
- The court provided eight points to guide the committee, including:
- Establishing a standard operating procedure for conducting qualifying exams.
- Reviewing the process of allotting exam centers.
- Enhancing identity checks of candidates.
- Implementing CCTV monitoring of exam centers.
- Ensuring secure logistics providers to prevent tampering with question papers during transportation.
- The court provided eight points to guide the committee, including:
Conclusion: The Supreme Court’s directive to the NTA aims to improve the integrity and efficiency of the NEET-UG exam system, addressing cybersecurity and logistical concerns to prevent future issues.