Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday strongly rejected claims that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education had given a “clean chit” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the ongoing NEET controversy, asserting that public confidence in the government’s education system has been severely damaged.
Ramesh’s remarks came after reports emerged suggesting that the parliamentary panel had expressed confidence in the Centre’s handling of the NEET-UG issue. Refuting those reports, he said the committee had not endorsed either the Prime Minister or the government’s examination system. He also claimed that comments made by committee chairman Digvijaya Singh were being taken out of context to create a misleading narrative.
In a post on X, Ramesh stated that the panel was informed by the Solicitor General that Prime Minister Modi is personally monitoring the proposed NEET re-examination. However, he argued that such assurances alone were not enough to restore trust. According to him, the government’s handling of the alleged NEET paper leak controversies in both 2024 and 2026 has raised serious questions about the credibility of the examination process.
Ramesh accused the government’s education administration of repeatedly failing students and examination authorities. He said it was “impossible for any reasonable mind” to have faith in the Prime Minister’s system, alleging that authorities had mishandled previous investigations and continued to deny evidence of irregularities. He further claimed that problems were not limited to NEET but had also affected examinations conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
The controversy followed a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, and Youth Affairs, where members discussed concerns related to NEET-UG, the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA), and examination reforms. Committee members reportedly stressed the need for a transparent and credible examination system and warned that students ultimately suffer whenever there are failures in the process.
Meanwhile, Digvijaya Singh said that members of the panel were united in seeking reforms and ensuring a fair examination process. He also stated that since the Prime Minister had taken charge of the matter, there was hope that the re-examination process would be conducted successfully.
The NEET controversy continues to fuel political confrontation between the Congress and the BJP, with opposition leaders demanding accountability from the government and questioning the functioning of the country’s examination system.
