In a series of shocking events, the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the education department have again proven their incompetence, leaving students in despair and uncertainty.
From the NEET-UG paper leak to the cancellation of UGC-NET exams, the postponement of NEET-PG exams, and the last-minute rescheduling of Delhi University’s Faculty of Law exams, the mishandling of these exams has reached an intolerable peak. It’s time to hold the responsible authorities accountable for these failures.
There is one question that emerges from all the mismanagement and unaccountability: who is paying the cost?
NEET-UG paper leak: A breach of trust
The NEET-UG paper leak is not just a mishap; it is a betrayal of trust. Students across the country dedicate months, even years, to prepare for this examination, only to have their efforts rendered meaningless by the NTA’s inability to secure the exam papers.
According to the National Crimes Record Bureau (NCRB), the suicide rate among students reached 7.6% in 2022. We often come across reports of student suicides in major coaching cities like Kota in Rajasthan, where students spend their youth preparing for competitive exams. They stay far from their homes, disconnecting from parental bonds, and carrying an emotional burden, hoping to return home with pride after fighting the battle of academics. All those hopes, hard work, and dreams have gone in vain.
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It’s not about identifying the culprit or how strictly the government takes action; the question is how it happened in the first place. This must be the last instance of such negligence. The repercussions of this leak are profound, shaking the foundation of fairness and integrity that our education system is supposed to uphold.
The NTA’s incompetence has once again dashed the hopes of thousands of aspiring doctors, leaving their futures hanging in the balance. There have been a few arrests made from different states and a syndicate of a group of people, popularly known as the “solver gang” has been unmasked by the investigating agencies.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted a press conference to address concerns related to the NEET examination held this year. Photo: X/@PIB_India
The Central Bureau of Investigation has been tasked with investigating the paper leak and in total 11 arrests have been made from various states such as Bihar and Jharkhand with six FIRs registered so far. Even the Supreme Court in its hearing on July 8 accepted the fact that the examination was compromised in contrast to the statement made by the Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan in June.
UGC-NET: An unjust cancellation
The abrupt cancellation of the UGC-NET exams is another testament to the NTA’s mismanagement. Students who have prepared for this gateway to academia and research are left without any valid explanation or apology.
The cancellation reflects a disregard for the aspirations and hard work of countless individuals. The education department’s failure to conduct the exams as scheduled shows a lack of planning and accountability that cannot be overlooked. The state is oblivious to the effort – mentally, emotionally, and financially – it takes for a scholar to prepare for that examination.
The ministry of education has stated that the examination integrity might have been compromised and it was decided to hold the examination again. Even in this case, the CBI has been tasked to investigate the matter. In response to the opprobrium faced by the ministry of education and NTA, it was announced by the education minister on June 21 that a committee of experts will be formed to strengthen the NTA and all the complicit will be held accountable.
NEET PG: A never-ending ordeal
The postponement of NEET-PG exams adds another layer of frustration to an already convoluted situation. It was notified on the day of the examination, leaving all the students perplexed. Candidates booked air and rail tickets in advance, took leave from their jobs and internships, and travelled hundreds of kilometres, only to witness their hopes and dreams shattered without any clarification.
Aspiring postgraduate medical students are forced into limbo, their careers stalled due to the NTA’s repeated postponements. The uncertainty and anxiety caused by these delays are detrimental to the mental health and professional futures of these students.
The continuous rescheduling signifies a lack of preparedness and respect for the candidates’ time and dedication. According to the version of the ministry of health and family welfare, the examination was deferred as a “precautionary measure”, due to alleged irregularities. Following in the same footsteps, it was mentioned that the CBI will investigate the discrepancies. A thorough assessment has been announced by the ministry of health of the examination, which is conducted by the National Board of Examination (NBE).
Also read: Watch | Shattered Dreams and Betrayal: The Inside Story of A NEET Aspirant
Faculty of Law, University of Delhi: The politics of postponement
Perhaps the most scandalous of all is the postponement of the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi exams, announced just one night before they were to commence. The reason? No one is aware of it. It seems to an order of the day to postpone the exam a night before.
The vice-chancellor has not given any reason except that there was a shortage of attendance among students, which could have led to a loss of a year for them. This act of impromptu announcement compels us to have a closer look at favouritism and corruption.
It is an affront to every student who has studied tirelessly for these exams. It is a clear indication that our education system is compromised and manipulated by those in power to serve their interests while honest, hardworking students are left to suffer the consequences.
Students who got admission to LLM programmes domestically and abroad had to suffer the most, they worked tirelessly to secure admissions in various universities, and due to such postponement, everyone seems to be bewildered and lost. Students who received jobs offers will have to postpone their joining dates, frustrating the recruiters. Around 9,000 students from the faculty will bear the brunt of these actions.
Rejecting regression : Manusmriti and the plight of future lawyers
Introducing the Manusmriti, an ancient Hindu legal text notorious for its regressive and discriminatory provisions, to students at the Faculty of Law, Delhi University is not just misguided but outright harmful. This text, deeply rooted in archaic social norms, propagates abhorrent practices that undermine the principles of equality and justice. By endorsing such a document, the university risks indoctrinating future lawyers with archaic notions of caste hierarchy, gender discrimination, and social injustice.
The Manusmriti sanctions inequalities based on birth, prescribing unequal treatment for individuals based on their caste and gender. It perpetuates a system where certain groups are deemed inherently superior or inferior, reinforcing prejudices that have no place in modern legal education of India. By exposing students to such teachings, the university fails in its duty to foster a progressive understanding of law that upholds human dignity and equality before the law.
Legal education should empower students to challenge injustice and promote societal progress. Introducing the Manusmriti not only contradicts this goal but also risks legitimising discriminatory practices in the name of tradition. It sends a dangerous message that regressive social norms should inform legal reasoning, rather than principles grounded in constitutional morality and human rights.
Furthermore, the Manusmriti is incompatible with India’s constitutional values, which strive to eliminate discrimination and ensure equal rights for all citizens. By promoting this text, the university undermines the very foundations of a secular, democratic society where every individual is entitled to equal protection under the law.
Accountability?
These incidents make us feel like the whole education system is falling like a house of cards. The consistent failures and irregularities in these exams are not mere accidents; they are the result of mismanagement and a lack of accountability within the NTA and the education department. It is high time these bodies are held responsible for their actions. The repeated disruptions and mismanagement have undermined the credibility of our education system, leaving students disillusioned.
After facing harsh opprobrium from all sides, especially from students and the opposition, the NTA decided to call for suggestions from the parents of students to restructure the organisation in the name of accountability. It is rather amusing to see how our National Testing Agency has become – an agency responsible for conducting almost all major competitive exams on a national level – that it has dropped its armoury and is now seeking suggestions from the parents. Instead of providing answers for its failure, it turns into a suggestion-seeking agency, aiming to shape itself as per the interests of those it serves, to ameliorate its image.
It is not just the NTA failing to do its job, organisations like National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) are continuously changing the syllabus for social sciences and do not want students to learn about riots. Such riots had a deep impact on the lives of our citizens and have shaped the political, social, economic, and psychological behaviour of the states and citizens. Rather, NCERT in the name of the well-being of students, and a positive, non-violent environment, does not want students to know even contemporary events let alone modern history. Not only in colleges and competitive exams, but even at the school level the rot and manipulation are undeniable.
Merely providing punishments to the accused and those involved would not suffice for all the students who have suffered and lost their hopes. Major incidents like these compel us to examine the organisational structure and necessary changes required to make it reliable.
If structural changes are not implemented, individuals behind bars or on the run, along with others, could exploit loopholes through corruption or technical skills to compromise examination integrity. Without reforms, this cycle of chor-police will continue to persist, leaving students vulnerable to further suffering.
States like Tamil Nadu have passed resolutions in their assemblies to scrap the NEET examination and revert to previous methods. The central authorities must regain the trust of such states during these turbulent times and thoroughly scrutinise the organization at a detailed level.
The authorities concerned should adhere to principles of transparency and accountability, and must take immediate corrective actions. The future of our students and the integrity of our education system are in jeopardy. Authorities must answer for their failures and take measures to prevent such mishandling in the future. This is not just a plea for justice; it is a demand for the fundamental right to a fair and dependable education system. The students of India deserve better, and it is time for the authorities to deliver. Finally, after considering all the facts, one must ask: who is bearing the cost?
Saawarni Sharma and Sreejayaa Rajguru are law students.
