Congress Criticizes Centre for Postponing NEET-PG, Claims Education System in Ruins

Multiple all-India examinations have been cancelled over the past week. The Congress has critiqued the Narendra Modi government for cancelling the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-PG) for postgraduate medical courses, emphasizing the need for accountability and justice for affected students.

NEET-PG is a prerequisite for doctors pursuing postgraduate programs, conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences. The exam was initially scheduled for March 3, then rescheduled for July 7 and finally for June 23, before being postponed hours ahead of the examination.

The government cited recent integrity allegations in competitive examinations as the reason for the postponement, expressing regret for the inconvenience caused to students and assuring that the decision was taken in their best interests. This cancellation marks the third significant examination cancellation in a week, following the cancellation of the UGC-NET and the postponement of the CSIR-UGC NET.

These developments occur amidst widespread protests against irregularities in the NEET UG exam, affecting 24 lakh students. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge held the top echelons of the Modi government responsible for the NEET turmoil, criticizing the governance of the National Testing Agency and stressing the need for accountability.

The NEET UG irregularities are now under investigation by the CBI, with the sacking of the National Testing Agency’s Director General and the establishment of a seven-member panel for exam reforms. Rahul Gandhi, a Congress leader, condemned the state of the education system under the Modi government and cited the cancellation of NEET PG as a testament to this.

He expressed concern that students are forced to confront the government rather than focus on their studies, attributing the dilemma to the government’s helplessness in the face of paper leaks and education corruption. The Sharad-Pawar-led faction of NCP echoed these sentiments, accusing the government of endangering the future of aspirants due to its inadequacies.

In conclusion, the cancellation and postponement of crucial examinations have sparked a heated debate, with political leaders and parties pointing to systemic issues in the education system and demanding accountability from the government.