THE RESULTS OF THE 2024
National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for undergraduates (NEET UG), which were announced on June 4, seem to be raising more questions than answers with each passing day.
The alleged discrepancies in the results, and the subsequent countrywide protests, have snowballed into Modi 3.0's first full-fledged controversy. Within a week, the Union government changed its stance from "all is well" with the National Testing Agency, the premier body at the centre of the controversy, to "a lot of improvement is required in the NTA"
The government has been under pressure from raging protests, allegations of paper leaks, NEET-related arrests in states and opposition attacks. The Supreme Court is also seeking answers from the NTA, saying the "sanctity of the exam had been affected"
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, one of the few in the new cabinet who have retained their ministerial portfolios in the past cabinet, is having a tough time defending the NTA. Established in 2017, the NTA conducts a range of national-level exams for admission to engineering, medicine, management, pharmacy and other higher education courses. Experts say that ever since the NTA became operational in September 2018, instances of mismanagement, technical errors and allegations of irregularities have been on the rise.
"Last year, the demand to re-conduct JEE (joint entrance exam) trended on social media, but nothing happened. In 2017, there was a major leak in SSC (Staff Selection Commission) exams. This year, the cutoff for NEET UG has gone up abruptly, indicating anomalies. The situation has worsened in the past few years," said Keshav Aggarwal, president, the NGO Educators Society.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict
SAHEB LOSES STEAM
Coalition dynamics and poor electoral prospects continue to diminish Ajit Pawar's political stock
