New Delhi. National Examination Agency (NTA) Director General (DG) Subodh Singh was removed from his post on Saturday amid a massive controversy over alleged irregularities in the competitive exams NEET and UGC-NET. In this regard, an official said that Singh has been kept on ‘compulsory waiting’ in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) till further orders.
Pradeep Singh Kharola, Chairman and Managing Director of India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO), has been given additional charge of Director General of the examination agency till a regular appointment is made. Regarding this, a senior official said, “The NTA Director General has been kept on compulsory waiting in the Department of Personnel and Training. Pradeep Singh Kharola has been given additional charge of NTA Director General till further orders.”
The government has cancelled the National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET), while the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) too has been accused of ‘paper leak’ and there are demands for its cancellation. NEET-UG 2024 was held on May 5 at 4,750 centres in which around 24 lakh candidates appeared.
Unprecedentedly in the history of NTA, 67 students had scored full 720 marks, including the names of six candidates from a centre in Faridabad, Haryana. This gave rise to suspicion of irregularities. It is alleged that 67 students reached the top rank by giving grace marks.
The Supreme Court heard the matter on June 21 and refused to postpone the counseling process proposed from July 6 and said that this is not a process that can be started and stopped whenever one wants. The apex court has issued notices to the National Examination Agency (NTA), the Central Government and others on a petition seeking cancellation of NEET-UG over alleged irregularities in the examination held on May 5.
Tags: NEET, UGC
FIRST PUBLISHED : June 22, 2024, 22:05 IST