NEET, NET paper leak row: Govt sets up 7-member reform panel; Who is on committee?

NEW DELHI: The ministry of education on Saturday constituted a high-level committee of experts to ensure transparent, smooth and fair conduct of examinations amid the NEET and UGC-NET row.
"In order to ensure transparent, smooth and fair conduct of examinations through National Testing Agency (NTA), department of higher education, ministry of education constituted a high-level committee of experts to make recommendations on Reform in mechanism of examination process improvement in data security protocols and structure and functioning of National Testing Agency," the ministry said.
The committee will make recommendations on reform in the mechanism of the examination process, improvement in data security protocols and structure and functioning of NTA.
According to the ministry of education, the committee will submit its report to the ministry within 2 months.
Who is in the committee?
The 7-member committee will be headed by former Isro chief Dr K Radhakrishnan. The committee also includes Dr Randeep Guleria, Prof B J Rao, Prof. Ramamurthy K, Pankaj Bansal, Aditya Mittal, Govind Jaiswal.
According to the statement from the ministry of education, the high-level panel will analyse the end-to-end examination process and also suggest measures to improve the efficiency of the system.
The committee will also conduct a thorough review of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)/Protocols of the NTA, and suggest measures to strengthen these procedures/protocols along with monitoring mechanisms to ensure compliance at every level.
Won't penalise lakhs who cleared NEET over a few malpractices, says education minister Dharmendra Pradhan
Earlier, education minister Dharmendra Pradhan promised tough action against National Testing Agency (NTA) officials for any irregularity, took moral responsibility for shortcomings, and said government was committed to zero-error testing, but stopped short of giving in to the demand to scrap the medical entrance test.
Pradhan said the matter should not be politicised. While emphasising govt’s commitment to protect the interests of students and the transparency and integrity of examinations, he made clear the intent not to cancel the test straightaway unless the govt came across credible evidence of largescale irregularity, especially paper leak.
UGC-NET June 2024 examination following concerns about the integrity of the exam
The UGC-NET June 2024 examination, conducted by National Testing Agency, that took place on earlier this week has also been cancelled following concerns about the integrity of the exam. A new examination will be scheduled, and the matter has been referred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a thorough investigation.
Inputs from Indian cyber crime coordination centre suggested possible compromises, prompting the ministry of education to take action. A new examination will be scheduled, and the matter has been referred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a thorough investigation.
Supreme Court orders re-test for 1,563 candidates
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has directed the National Testing Agency to conduct re-exam for the NEET aspirants, who had been awarded grace marks, on June 23. The top court will resume reviewing the other petitions apart from grace marks on July 8. However, these developments will not stall the ongoing counselling process.
"Counselling will proceed, and we will not stop it. If the exam is affected, everything is affected, so there is nothing to fear," the apex court declared.