New Delhi, 20 June (H.S.): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday criticised the Narendra Modi-led government after a NEET-UG aspirant from Maharashtra's Nagpur was reportedly allotted an examination centre in Abu Dhabi for the June 21 re-examination. Calling the incident unacceptable, Gandhi urged the government to stop gambling with the future of children and ensure that examination authorities function with greater accountability.

The controversy arose after the family of a NEET-UG candidate claimed that the student, who was scheduled to appear for the re-test on Saturday, had been assigned an examination centre in Abu Dhabi despite residing in Nagpur. The family said the allocation caused confusion and anxiety just a day before the examination.

Reacting to the incident, Rahul Gandhi targeted the government of repeatedly failing to safeguard the interests of students. In a post on social media, he alleged that such errors reflected administrative negligence and placed an unnecessary burden on young aspirants preparing for one of the country's most competitive entrance examinations.

Following the public outcry, the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the NEET-UG examination, acknowledged the grievance and said the issue was being addressed. The agency stated that, after due verification, the candidate would be allotted an examination centre in Nagpur within the next few hours, allowing the student to appear for the re-test without having to travel abroad.

The incident comes amid continued scrutiny of the examination process and renewed concerns over administrative lapses in the conduct of national-level entrance tests. The NTA has maintained that corrective measures are being taken wherever genuine grievances are identified to ensure that eligible candidates are not adversely affected.

The NEET-UG examination is the gateway for admission to undergraduate medical and dental courses across India, making the smooth conduct of the test crucial for lakhs of aspiring students each year. The latest episode has once again sparked debate over the need for greater accuracy, transparency and efficiency in the examination system.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar