New Delhi, 18 June (H.S.): Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday chaired a high-level review meeting to assess preparations for the NEET-UG re-examination scheduled for June 21 and directed the concerned authorities to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and efficiency throughout the examination process.

The meeting was attended by senior officials and representatives from the Ministry of Education, state governments, the National Testing Agency (NTA), and higher educational institutions. Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of the Department of Higher Education Vineet Joshi, and NTA Director General Abhishek Singh were also present.

Addressing the meeting, Pradhan stressed that all necessary arrangements must be put in place to ensure the re-examination is conducted in a free, fair, and seamless manner. He instructed all concerned agencies to remain vigilant and carry out their responsibilities with complete preparedness. He further stated that officers nominated by the Ministry of Education would be deployed across all states to coordinate activities related to the re-examination and report to the command centre headed by the NTA Director General.

The Education Minister directed nodal officers of the state governments to ensure that candidates experience a stress-free environment during the examination and are provided with all essential facilities.

Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy Sanjay Kumar said that adequate seating arrangements, drinking water, and other necessary amenities should be made available to enable students to appear for the examination comfortably. He urged the nodal officers of the state governments to take all required measures in this regard.

Secretary of the Department of Higher Education Vineet Joshi said that the period leading up to the re-examination is extremely crucial and requires active coordination among all stakeholders, timely dissemination of instructions, and strict adherence to the prescribed protocols.

NTA Director General Abhishek Singh informed the meeting that the agency is working closely with district-level coordination committees, state police departments, intelligence agencies, and all other relevant stakeholders to ensure the peaceful and orderly conduct of the re-examination.

The meeting included detailed discussions on examination preparedness, coordination mechanisms, security protocols, logistical arrangements, grievance redressal systems, and compliance with examination guidelines. States and Union Territories were advised to maintain close coordination with all stakeholders.

The meeting, conducted in a hybrid mode, was attended by a total of 222 participants. Senior officials from various states and Union Territories, nodal officers of centrally funded institutions, vice-chancellors of universities, and directors of higher educational institutions assured their full cooperation to ensure the smooth conduct of the NEET-UG re-examination.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar