NEET: Extremely Unfortunate, Says Health Minister
He stated that despite previous incidents, the agency had failed to learn lessons and conduct the examination in a foolproof manner.
Hyderabad:Reacting to the cancellation of the NEET examination, health minister Damodar Rajanarasimha described the development as “extremely unfortunate”.
“Nearly 70,000 students in Telangana and over 22 lakh students across the country appeared for NEET this year and were waiting for the results. The National Testing Agency has pushed their future into uncertainty. The NTA has completely failed in conducting the NEET examination,” the minister said.
He stated that despite previous incidents, the agency had failed to learn lessons and conduct the examination in a foolproof manner. “The negligence of the NTA has put the future of 22 lakh students at risk,” he added.
The minister said the cancellation had caused severe emotional distress to students and their parents. “The Central government must now respond appropriately and take strict action against those responsible for such a major lapse,” he said, assuring that the Telangana government would stand by students and their families.
Educationists also voiced strong concerns about recurring irregularities. Sai Lakshmi, Core Dean of Narayana Educational Institutions, said: “Irregularities keep happening in NEET, including incidents where question papers are distributed late at certain centres. This type of issue is repeating every year, but who takes responsibility? The conduct of examinations should be moved away from the current system. We have been suggesting a shift to digital mode, but we do not know why there is hesitation. It is safer and more secure. If NTA cannot implement reforms, it should step away from its examination duties.”
The cancellation has reignited debate over systemic reforms, with both government and academic voices demanding accountability and a shift to more secure examination methods.
SFI demands abolition of NTA
Hyderabad:The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) Telangana state committee alleged that the cancellation of the NEET examination was a direct result of the centralisation of the education system by the Union government and demanded that the National Testing Agency (NTA) be abolished immediately.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, SFI leaders said more than 22 lakh students across the country were being pushed into uncertainty due to the cancellation of the NEET examination conducted on May 3 following the alleged paper leak and failures by the NTA.
The organisation alleged that repeated paper leaks and lack of transparency in conducting examinations were occurring because the Centre had taken away the rights of states and centralised the education system.
SFI stated that even during the 2024 incidents, when both NEET and NET examinations were cancelled due to paper leaks, serious doubts had emerged regarding the transparency and functioning of the NTA. However, instead of rectifying those shortcomings, similar incidents were recurring, the student body said.
The organisation pointed out that even if a paper leak occurs in one state, students across the country are forced to suffer the consequences, leading to large‑scale uncertainty and stress among aspirants.
SFI demanded educational decentralisation and restoration of the powers of states in conducting entrance examinations, stating that the Centre’s control over education was adversely affecting students nationwide.
Echoing the demand for reform, Sai Lakshmi, core dean of Narayana Educational Institutions, said: “Irregularities keep happening in NEET, including incidents where question papers are distributed late at certain centres. This type of issue is repeating every year, but who takes responsibility? The conduct of examinations should be moved away from the current system. We have been suggesting a shift to digital mode, but we do not know why there is hesitation. It is safer and more secure. If NTA cannot implement reforms, it should step away from its examination duties.”
The cancellation has thus intensified calls from both student organisations and educationists for dismantling the current centralised system and moving towards decentralised, secure, and transparent examination processes.
