New Delhi - Amid the controversy surrounding the NEET medical entrance exam, former HRD Minister Kapil Sibal has called for a Supreme Court-appointed probe into allegations of irregularities. He criticized PM Modi for remaining silent on the issue and urged the government to consult with all states on future exam procedures. Sibal highlighted corruption in the testing system and the need for accountability. He also clarified that the NEET regulation was introduced by the Medical Council of India and not the Ministry of Education, emphasizing the need for a transparent inquiry into the matter.

Sibal, in an interview with PTI, demanded a probe by Supreme Court-appointed officials into allegations of irregularities and called on the government to thoroughly consult with all states on how this examination should be conducted in the future. He criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not addressing the issue, stating that corruption in any examination system requires immediate attention.

"The present National Testing Agency (NTA) has really bungled, and corruption has been brought to light on media platforms," Sibal said, specifically pointing to incidents in Gujarat as a matter of great national concern. He argued that the NTA should answer serious questions regarding these irregularities.

Sibal also expressed disappointment that the ruling party's supporters often blame the UPA for current issues without understanding the historical context. He clarified that the NEET regulation was introduced by the Medical Council of India (MCI) in 2010, which was under the Ministry of Health and not the Ministry of Education. The regulation was initially struck down by the Supreme Court in 2013 but was later upheld in 2020 after several legislative changes.

Sibal criticized Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for dismissing allegations of paper leaks or rigging in the exam, urging him to acknowledge the issues raised on social media, particularly in Gujarat. He highlighted that there is widespread corruption in how examinations are conducted across the country, not just in one state.

The former HRD minister also noted that the NEET exam tends to favor CBSE students, disadvantaging those from other boards, and pointed out that Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed the NEET exam due to such biases. He emphasized the need for a thorough inquiry into any irregularities in the NEET exam, suggesting an independent investigation led by officials appointed by the Supreme Court.

Sibal urged all political parties to raise this issue in the upcoming session of Parliament, though he expressed skepticism about the government allowing a discussion, citing the sub-judice status of the matter.

The Congress party echoed Sibal's concerns, with Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh calling for an in-depth review of NEET, NTA, and NCERT by the new Parliament Standing Committees. Ramesh pointed out that NEET might be discriminatory and could disadvantage students from non-CBSE schools and poorer backgrounds.

The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) held on May 5 across 4,750 centers saw allegations of question paper leaks and other irregularities. The Centre and the NTA informed the Supreme Court that they had canceled the grace marks given to 1,563 candidates due to these issues, offering them the option to retake the test or forgo the compensatory marks awarded.

The Congress reiterated the need for a Supreme Court-monitored forensic probe to protect the future of the affected students and questioned Prime Minister Modi's silence on the matter.