Jairam Ramesh, a Congress leader, has argued that the Centre’s decision to implement a law now in order to prevent use of unfair means in competitive exams is damage control after many scams including NEET-UG and UGC-NET tests.
On X, he claimed, “this law was necessary but it only deals with irregularities like question paper leaks after they have occurred.”
Across the country, several opposition political parties and student associations among them Congress have staged demonstrations on what they call irregularities during Medical Entrance Exam NEET-UG and UGC-NET.
Last week June 21; amidst the raging row over this issue; Centre operationalized the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 aimed at curbing malpractices and irregularities in competitive examinations which provides for maximum imprisonment of ten years as well as one crore rupees worth of fines.
“The Bill received President’s assent on February 13, but it was only implemented last Friday,” said Mr. Ramesh Congress’ General Secretary Communications
The President of India gave her assent to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means), Bill, 2024 on February 13, 2024. Finally: just this morning the nation has been told that this Act has come into force from yesterday, that is June 21st ,2024,” he said.”
“Clearly this is meant to tackle the NEET UGC NET CSIR-UGC-NET so called scams,” said Jairam Ramesh adding that “this law was needed. It only tackles leakage after it has happened.”
“More important are laws systems processes procedures; whatever you want to call them so long as they ensure there is no leakages,” he said.
On June 21st the National Testing Agency which administers these competition exams had announced postponement of JUNE edition of Joint Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test CITING unavoidable circumstances and logistic issues.
This came two days after the agency cancelled UGC-NET examination within 24 hours of its conduct alleging that integrity of the exam had been compromised; a massive row on NEET over alleged irregularities, with the issue now before the Supreme Court.