Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has strongly criticised the Central government for what he calls "gross inefficiency" that has affected the credibility of crucial national-level examinations, putting the future of lakhs of students at risk.
In a recent Facebook post on June 20, Mr. Vijayan highlighted the cancellation of the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) due to the National Testing Agency (NTA) failing to ensure the exam's integrity.
This development comes amidst growing concerns over the integrity of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for Medical and Allied Courses, with reports suggesting a "corrupt nexus" undermining its credibility. Mr. Vijayan expressed dismay at the significant investments of money, time, and effort made by students and their families in preparing for these crucial exams, only to be left in uncertainty due to the NTA's incompetence and lack of oversight.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Mr. Vijayan reiterated his concerns, stating, “The controversy over NEET has barely subsided, and now the Ministry of Education has announced the cancellation of UGC-NET, citing compromised exam integrity. This repeated incompetence is unacceptable, leaving students in limbo and wasting public money. The Central Government must take immediate steps to resolve this crisis at NTA and ensure a fair, transparent, and reliable examination process.”
He further criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government, accusing it of being more focused on "saffronising education" than fulfilling its primary responsibility to students. Mr. Vijayan urged swift action to address the issues at the NTA and ensure a fair and reliable examination system for the benefit of students and their families.