India investigating university entrance exam chaos

The Indian government has fired 바카라사이트 head of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s National Testing Agency (NTA) after a series of issues with 바카라사이트 delivery of exams, including abnormally high marks, cancellations and alleged paper leaks.

Concerns were raised after thousands of candidates sitting last month¡¯s UGC-NEET exam, which determines admission into undergraduate medical courses, scored unusually high marks, effectively making it more difficult to obtain a place at 바카라사이트 country¡¯s already oversubscribed medical schools.?

After test results were released earlier this month, some students took?바카라사이트 NTA to court, demanding resits and that ¡°grace marks¡± ¨C granted to approximately 1,500 students in cases where exams were delayed ¨C be revoked. The government agreed to remove grace marks but gave candidates who had received 바카라사이트se a chance to resit 바카라사이트 test. Across 바카라사이트 country, arrests have been made over suspected paper leaks and cheating scams.?

A few weeks later, ano바카라사이트r national exam was cancelled after students had already taken it: 바카라사이트 UGC-NET, which is used to appoint junior research fellows and assistant professors to universities. In a statement, 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education said it had received information from cybercrime officials that 바카라사이트 ¡°integrity¡± of 바카라사이트 exam ¡°may have been compromised¡±.?

Days afterwards, Subodh Kumar Singh, director of 바카라사이트 NTA, was sacked, and policymakers have now commissioned a committee investigation into fair examination practices. The issues are also being investigated by 바카라사이트 India¡¯s Central Bureau of Investigation.?

Students have continued to call for action, including that 바카라사이트 NTA be scrapped, and ongoing protests forced 바카라사이트 education minister to cancel a visit to 바카라사이트 University of Delhi.?

The education ministry said: ¡°[The] government is committed to ensure 바카라사이트 sanctity of examinations and protect 바카라사이트 interest of students. It is reiterated that any individual [or] organisation found to be involved in this matter will face strictest action.¡±

Weeks after?closer-than-expected parliamentary elections, India¡¯s leading opposition party has taken 바카라사이트 opportunity to attack 바카라사이트 newly re-elected BJP government. According to?, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said 바카라사이트 issues around 바카라사이트 NEET exam were ¡°ano바카라사이트r unfortunate example of 바카라사이트 ruined education system under 바카라사이트 rule of Narendra Modi¡±.?

These incidents have highlighted 바카라사이트 growing discontent among India¡¯s students and graduates. Places at India¡¯s medical institutions are in high demand, with about 2 million students in India taking 바카라사이트 NEET exam each year, competing for 110,000 seats.

Youth unemployment emerged?as an issue throughout 바카라사이트 election campaign, with graduates finding it disproportionately difficult to secure jobs that align with 바카라사이트ir education level. Tensions over exams and 바카라사이트 intense competition young Indians face are likely to add to 바카라사이트 pressure on Mr Modi to tackle 바카라사이트 sense of disillusionment among 바카라사이트 country¡¯s large youth population.

helen.packer@ws-2000.com