SFI Demands Transparency on NEET Re-examination Attendance
The Himachal Pradesh state committee of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) has demanded that the National Testing Agency (NTA) release the attendance data of candidates who appeared for the NEET-UG re-examination held on June 21. The demand comes amid concerns over a significant gap between registered and actual candidates.
Allegations of Missing Candidates
Addressing a press conference in Shimla, SFI state president Anil Thakur stated that approximately 22 lakh candidates had appeared for the NEET-UG examination originally held on May 3. That exam was later cancelled due to allegations of a paper leak. The NTA then announced a re-examination on June 21. However, Thakur pointed out that several examination centres across the country reported an unexplained discrepancy between the number of registered candidates and those who actually appeared for the test.
“While around 22 lakh students appeared in the earlier examination, the NTA, in its statement, said that more than 20 lakh aspirants took the re-examination. This raises concerns about the circumstances under which nearly two lakh candidates did not appear for the test,” Thakur said.
Impact on Students
Thakur alleged that the cancellation of the previous examination had adversely affected aspirants and their families, forcing around 21 students to take their own lives. He added that a large number of students were subjected to severe mental and psychological distress due to repeated paper leaks and continuous irregularities by the NTA and the Ministry of Education. The situation has further marginalised students from economically and socially weaker sections by pushing them into greater financial and emotional hardship.
The SFI has called for immediate action to ensure transparency and accountability in the examination process.
