Latest exam News | Top exam News Headlines Today | Today India news | Breaking exam News Today | English exam News Headlines - TheDailyGuardian

NEET PG Rescheduled, Supreme Court Approves Extension | NEW DATE

June 6, 2025, 1:28 pm

The Supreme Court on Friday allowed the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) to hold the NEET-PG 2025 exam on August 3. This comes on the heels of a previous order by the apex court ordering the examination to be conducted in one shift, rejecting the two-shift scheme as ‘arbitrary’.

The vacation bench of Justices P.K. Mishra and A.G. Masih passed the order in response to NBEMS’ application for extension of time to implement the single-shift requirement. Scheduled to be held on June 15, the exam could not be conducted as scheduled for reasons of logistics involved in conducting a single-shift exam for more than 2.4 lakh candidates spread over more than 250 cities.

NBEMS Discusses Logistical Issues

Answering for NBEMS, Advocate Kirtiman Singh told the court that the Board had at the beginning organized 450 centres for a two-shift examination. But in order to honor the court’s order, the Board now needed more than 1,000 well-equipped and secure test centres capable of accommodating all candidates in a single shift. Such centres would require strong Wi-Fi, hardware support, power backup, as well as strong anti-cheating infrastructure.

Upon consultations with its technical partner Tata Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd. (TCS), NBEMS informed that scheduling a mass, single-shift exam would not be possible prior to August 3. TCS also highlighted that reopening test centre selection for candidates and reprinting admit cards would lead to further delays.

SC Reviews and Approves Rescheduling

On reviewing the documents submitted, the bench observed:
“After reviewing the papers, we are content that the prayer for extension of time up to August 3 is bonafide. Consequentially, the period granted by our order dated May 30 to hold NEET-PG 2025 is extended. The respondent can conduct the examination on August 3.”

But the court made it clear that this would be the sole extension and emphasized that there would be no further delay. While conveying the order, the bench also raised an eyebrow over the delay having any effect on the academic calendar.

“The time period you are requesting is too long. It would impact the admission process. Students have been waiting for this examination for a long time. Their admissions will be delayed,” the bench noted.

Court Criticizes TCS and Exam Planning

The court also raised a question mark over TCS’s readiness, saying, “TCS knows all the examination centres and their compliance status. They just have to identify and assign the centres accordingly.”

At this juncture, Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj, appearing for the Centre, assured the court that the August 3 date was settled after taking top-level consultations into consideration, considering logistical and security requirements.

“There are practical challenges in holding the exam prior to this date. The number of centres must be doubled and substantial security arrangements have to be made. Our aim is to rule out any chance of disruption,” he added.

The bench concurred, observing, “We also don’t want any problem to take place.” While the ASG was willing to reconsider an earlier date, the court concluded by saying, “We are allowing you time till August 3.”

The court in its previous order on May 30 had decided in favor of NEET-PG aspirants who had petitioned the court stating that having the exam in two shifts introduced an element of unfairness. They had presented examples from last year where the evening paper was said to be easier than the morning session.

The court had then decreed, “Two shifts introduce arbitrariness and do not permit students to attempt the exam at the same level. Two shifts are not fair. Two examination papers will always have differences.”

Whereas NBEMS justified the two-shift model as a protective measure against malpractice and demanded strict observance of the academic calendar, the court kept the door open for the Board to seek an extension, which culminated in Friday’s ruling.

What does the TCS Report Say?

As per NBEMS’s submission, an examination conducted in a single shift on June 15 would have needed over 1,000 compliant test centers and over 60,000 staff, including invigilators, system handlers, network engineers, and security personnel. TCS, in its report, also approximated that more than 2,000 local servers would be required, depending on hardware supply chains.

TCS also published compulsory technical requirements for participating test centres: secure premises, three-tier power supply backup, sound network infrastructure, trained personnel, and integrity systems to avoid malpractice.

Taking cues from earlier years, the report highlighted that NEET-PG 2022 was held at 849 centres for approximately 2.06 lakh candidates and NEET-PG 2023 utilized 902 centres for more than 2.09 lakh candidates, both held in a single shift. The two-shift pattern saw introduction only last year.

With the approval of the Supreme Court, NEET-PG 2025 will now be conducted on August 3 in a single-shift mode, mirroring the court’s thrust on fairness and integrity in competitive exams.

‘Welcome to Bihar’: Woman Crawls Under Gate to Gain Entry in Exam Centre | WATCH

February 2, 2025, 8:11 pm

A video online shows a woman sneaking under a closed gate to enter an exam center in Nawada Bazar, Bihar, as she was late to the exams. The gates are accused to have been closed after the time allowed for entry, and the woman was ushered in by others, as the concerned officials refused entry despite several attempts.

The video, that was shared from apna_nawadah and informed.in, received extreme attention. “Several students arrived late at Nawada Bazar, Bihar to the exam centre. A struggle to get them inside has hit the social networks. Despite efforts, the concerned officials did not allow them due to strict regulations of the examinations. The mishap is significant as it showcases the importance of reaching on time to avoid issues like this, it added.”

Watch the viral clip:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ❤️‍?♡Ｎᥲ?ᥲ?ᥲ ♡❤️‍? city (@apna_nawadah)

The video went viral, with reactions from users. One wrote, “Tbh, they used their brains instead of crying and waiting for the faculty to open the doors. it’s like when God closes the door, you crawl through the bottom.” Another commented, “Entry lene ka tarika thoda casual hai.” A third remarked, “That’s why it’s important to stay slim.” Another added, “Welcome to Bihar.”

RSSB Implements Stringent Security Measures For Upcoming Recruitment Exams

January 6, 2025, 1:32 am

The Rajasthan Staff Selection Board (RSSB) is implementing stringent security measures to prevent cheating and rigging in upcoming recruitment exams. These measures, including biometric attendance, face scanning, eye-rise scanning, and metal detector checks, will begin with the Junior Engineer Recruitment Examination scheduled for February and will be adopted for all future exams conducted by the board.

Enhanced Security At Exam Centres

Alok Raj, Chairman of the Rajasthan Staff Selection Board, announced that the entry process for candidates will undergo significant changes, aimed at eliminating cheating. A special security agency, hired by the Staff Selection Board, will now conduct metal detector checks at examination centres, replacing the state police and home guards. This step is designed to prevent metal devices or objects from entering the exam venues.

In addition to metal detectors, candidates will undergo biometric attendance, face scanning, and eye-rise scanning before entering the examination centres. These measures are intended to ensure that only the registered candidates take the exam, preventing impersonation or the entry of dummy candidates. Any issues detected during document verification will result in immediate flagging of the responsible individuals.

Video Surveillance And Continuous Monitoring

The entire examination process will be closely monitored through video surveillance. CCTV cameras will be installed in every exam room to provide a real-time online record of the proceedings. This measure will ensure transparency and help prevent cheating or misconduct during the exam. The footage will serve as an online record, allowing authorities to identify any irregularities if they arise.

Updated Dress Code For Winter Exams

To accommodate the cold weather, the Rajasthan Staff Selection Board has revised the dress code for candidates appearing in exams from November to February. Candidates are now allowed to wear coats, jackets, full-sleeve shirts, warm jerseys (without pockets), and sweaters to the examination centres. However, these garments must not contain metal buttons, chains, or large buttons, and shirts must not have any badges. The board has made it clear that candidates must not wear clothing that could potentially hide prohibited items.

Female candidates are permitted to wear rubber bands or simple hairpins. If a candidate’s attire raises doubt, they may be asked to remove their coat, jacket, or scarf for further security checks.

The Rajasthan Staff Selection Board has imposed new restrictions on attire for recruitment exams. Items like ties, mufflers, jerkins, and shawls are prohibited. Male candidates can wear half or full-sleeve shirts or T-shirts, while female candidates can wear salwar suits, dupattas, or sarees, avoiding metal buttons, badges, or large decorations. Disputes over dress code will be settled by the exam centre officer. Slippers, sandals, or small-length shoes are allowed, but shoes with metal chains are banned. These measures, including biometric scanning and video surveillance, aim to ensure a fair, transparent, and secure recruitment process.

NEET Paper Leak: Implications for Digital Security

August 28, 2024, 2:43 am

As the 2024 NEET paper controversy continues to impact students’ lives and jeopardise the future of more than 24 lakh students, it triggered discussions on how technology could potentially mitigate some of the security challenges in these high-stakes exams. However, the fact that the paper was leaked on the dark web, which is the hidden part of the internet that is not indexed by regular search engines and circulated on telegrams, also highlights the failure of the present digital system. Many exams worldwide have started using digital systems to mitigate such security incidents, allowing for greater reliability, fairness and inclusion in high-stakes exams. Still, the existing digital divide and its unique challenges are also to be considered while discussing any potential shift in policy.

Even though the proposed Digital India Act, 2023 was placed for consultation on 9th March 2023 by then Minister of State for the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY), Mr Rajeev Chandrasekhar, to replace the Information Technology Act of 2000 (IT Act), the concerns continue to exist. The Act is crucial to ensuring India’s secure, accountable and innovative digital future. However, issues like the NEET and UGC NET paper leaks raise questions regarding the safety of India’s digital architecture and the kind of controls that the government can exercise in such situations. In the past, on the occurrence of any such situations, the steps taken by the government include blocking or throttling of mobile communications, websites, social media and messaging applications that have affected the promotion and protection of the exercise of rights over the internet and have been condemned by international organisations like the UN.

In this context, the Digital India Act, 2023 aims to ensure online safety, trust and accountability, open internet, and regulations of new age technologies like artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies. The act will accompany the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, Digital India Act Rules, National Data Governance Policy, and IPC amendments for Cyber Crimes that have taken shape through the new criminal law acts since 1st July this year. This act seeks to ensure the openness, safety, trust, and accountability of the Internet, which is of paramount significance given the background of the paper leaks and violation of the rights of the students to have fair and transparent examinations.

One of the essential aspects the proposed Digital India Act will have to overcome is the Digital Divide. This phenomenon refers to the gap between the haves and the have-nots, that is, the absence of internet accessibility with the larger populace that affects the free flow of information, especially for the students who prepare for such exams. One such category of students is the socially and educationally disadvantaged students who come within the category of the have-nots. Such students have gained access to education in private schools with advanced digital technologies through the quota for them under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. Section 12(1) of the Act directs private schools to reserve 25% of seats for children from economically weaker sections. Children in this quota are admitted at the entry level, and the government bears the cost of the next eight years of their education.

However, implementing the same has been a concern, especially since the pandemic. The reason is high dropouts, especially for children from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, since the parents of these children lost their employment, which forced the children to contribute towards the sustenance of the family. Furthermore, the National Education Policy, 2020 has also ignored factors such as caste, religion, region or ethnicity for children from weaker sections of society and assumed a level playing field.

While India’s has the world’s second fastest-growing mobile market, it is lagging behind when it comes to internet connectivity. Oxfam’s India Inequality Report, 2022 stated that only 31 per cent of the rural population uses the internet compared to 67 per cent of the urban population and access to the internet through any device; urban children fared better in urban India at 44 per cent than in rural areas at 17 per cent, with only 4 per cent of students from SC and ST communities having access to a computer and the internet. The exorbitant costs of EdTech products also contributed to the digital divide.

The aspect of governmental control and reasons like national security and public order often have been cited to control internet access, which has also been recognised internationally by bodies like the International Telecommunication Union under its Constitution through Articles 34 and 35. The fact ignored while implementing such measures is its disproportionate impact on students needing internet access. This is more so in a country like India, which has regional disparities, lower internet penetration, less experienced digital regulatory institutions, unequal per capita income and varying digital skills.

Regarding the frequency of internet shutdowns, India holds the record for one of the highest number of shutdowns in the world. These shutdowns are executed through the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules 2017, under which the competent authorities have direct and express power to direct internet shutdowns. Additionally, the government can impose a shutdown under section 5(2) of the Telegraph Act, which authorises the government to detain telegraphs during a public emergency or in the interest of public safety.

Instead, there is a need for sustained and transformed digital empowerment based on principles of access, adoption and inclusivity that enhance citizen trust, especially for the students who constitute a more significant proportion of the users and make the system user-friendly. From a comparative aspect, the practice followed in the European Union may act as a guiding light. In Europe, the focus has been on content regulation, i.e. the material being displayed to the users over the internet, protection of free speech and the right to privacy. Moreover, Europe has taken a proactive approach regarding concerns related to privacy, such as the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which shifts the responsibility for privacy and security to the service providers.

In the future, the need of the hour is for a holistic and inclusive approach to develop an ecosystem of digital literacy awareness, education and training involving enhanced cooperation and mutual sectoral collaboration with students, teachers, and the larger community to address the challenges of the digital divide due to lack of access and digital illiteracy.

Abhinav Mehrotra, Assistant Professor and Amit upadhyay, Associate Professor
Jindal Global Law School, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat

Rahul Gandhi alleges Indian Examination System is a Fraud

July 23, 2024, 2:26 am

Newly appointed Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday trained his guns at the BJP-led NDA government at the centre over the issue of NEET and paper peaks saying that there is a “serious issue” with the examination system in the country.

During a heated debate with Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the Congress leader cornered the government over the issue of NEET.

He said, “It’s obvious to the whole country that there is a very serious problem with our examination system. This is not just the question of the NEET but major examinations.”

Slamming Pradhan, Rahul Gandhi, who is also a Lok Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Rae Bareli said, “Now, the minister has blamed everybody except himself. I don’t think he understands the fundamentals of what’s going on here.”

He said that the issue is that there are millions of students in this country who are extremely concerned about what is going on and who are convinced that the “Indian examination system is a fraud”.

“Millions of people believe that if you are rich, you can buy the Indian examination system, and this is the same feeling we as the Opposition have. This is why we are asking some very simple questions to the Minister,” he said.

“As this is a systemic issue, what exactly are you doing to fix the issue at a systemic level?” the LoP said.

The Opposition staged a walkout in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour after Pradhan denied the charges saying there was “no evidence” of paper leak in the last seven years.

Meanwhile, Speaker Om Birla suggested members should discuss developing a better examination system in the country.

The hearing on the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-UG paper leak case is underway in the Supreme Court, with Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud leading the bench.

Student Gets ‘Too Honest’ With Heart Diagram | Viral

June 25, 2024, 11:37 am

Let’s face it, most of us struggled with drawing a heart diagram in school and often opted for the alternative question in exams. However, one student embraced the challenge and got ‘too honest’ with his answer. A screenshot of his work has been circulating on Instagram, leaving people in stitches.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by _MEMES_CONNECTION (@_memes_connection)

The viral video reveals that the student humorously named the heart’s chambers after girls—Haritha, Priya, Pooja, Namitha, and Roopa—instead of using the correct anatomical terms. He also described the functions of the heart in relation to these girls.

For Priya, he wrote that “she was always chatting with him” and that he “liked her,” assigning her to his left atrium.

He described Rupa as very “beautiful and cute.” She used to text him on Snapchat, so he placed her in his left ventricle.

Namitha, a neighbor with “long hair and big eyes,” also found a place in his heart.

Haritha, his classmate, occupies his right atrium, while Pooja, his ex-lover who he can’t forget, is in his right ventricle.

Since being shared on May 13, the diagram has gone viral with over 64.3 million views and more than one million likes. Many users commented on the video to share their reactions.

Check out a few comments below:

“At least he knows the heart has four chambers,” wrote one person.

Another added, “Bro is trying to forget his ex.”

“Well-drawn, though,” noted a third Instagram user.

A fourth commented, “Student rocked, teacher shocked.”

“Lol. Bro is too honest,” expressed a fifth.

Bihar Police Found Questions Matching ‘Original’ NEET Paper In Burnt Scraps: How Many Papers Matched?

June 24, 2024, 8:59 am

The Bihar government has communicated to the Centre that a probe by its Economic Offences Unit (EOU) “clearly suggests a paper leak” in the NEET-UG exam. This assertion is based on the EOU’s findings that 68 questions from the purported photocopy of the question paper, retrieved from burnt paper remains, match the original NEET-UG paper provided by the National Testing Agency (NTA). This information has been confirmed by The Indian Express.

The EOU’s report, which was received by the Education Ministry on Saturday, also indicates that the unique exam centre code found on the scraps of the burnt paper corresponds to Oasis School, a CBSE-affiliated private school in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand. This school was designated as an exam centre by the NTA. The EOU used forensic analysis to confirm the match between the burnt scraps and the original question paper.

The Education Ministry, acting on the EOU’s report, decided to hand over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The EOU has already arrested five more suspects on Sunday, bringing the total number of arrests in connection with the paper leak to 18. Reinforcing the claim of a paper leak, the EOU noted that the 68 questions not only matched the original questions but also had identical serial numbers.

The burnt papers were initially found on the day of the exam, May 5, when the suspected candidates were arrested. However, a delay occurred in matching them with the NEET-UG paper due to the NTA’s initial reluctance to share the question paper with the state government. This hurdle was overcome a week ago when the NTA began cooperating with Bihar’s EOU.

The current focus of the Bihar EOU is to determine the time and location of the paper leak. The NTA has recently provided the chain of custody for the question paper, aiding the EOU in tracing the paper’s journey from the NTA to the Oasis School to identify where the leak occurred. A significant clue emerged when the EOU seized items from Oasis School, discovering that one tamper-proof envelope containing the question papers had been cut open improperly.

Ehsanhul Haque, the principal of Oasis School, suggested that the paper might have been leaked before the packets arrived at the school. He clarified that CCTV footage showed the packets were received on the morning of May 5 by the Centre Superintendent and the NTA Observer, and the packets were opened in front of the students as per protocol. Haque stated that despite the school’s strict procedures, the EOU found evidence suggesting sophisticated tampering with the sealed packets.

The EOU has sent the digital devices and phones of the arrested individuals to a forensics laboratory to retrieve further clues, as the accused had recently formatted their devices. The arrested candidates testified that they had memorized answers from the leaked question paper a day before the exam while staying at a location in Rajbanshi Nagar. Their scores ranged from 185 to 581 out of 720. The EOU suspects that another 30 candidates may have benefited from the leak, based on the statements of the accused.

The investigation gained momentum after the Jharkhand Police alerted the Bihar Police about a potential paper leak on May 4. On the exam day, May 5, the Patna police, acting on specific leads, raided a house in Rajbanshi Nagar and found the burnt question paper. Subsequent arrests included a key suspect, Yadavendu, a junior engineer, and others involved in the conspiracy.

The Bihar government transferred the investigation to the EOU on May 11, which then led to the identification and arrest of additional suspects. The CBI will now take over the investigation to further unravel the details of the NEET-UG paper leak.

Paper leak case: 3 people arrested in Rajasthan

April 19, 2023, 3:48 pm

In connection with the alleged paper leak of the senior teacher recruitment exam, the team of special operations group (SOG) has detained Rajasthan Public Service Commission member Babu Lal Katara, his nephew, and a driver employed by the commission.

Today, the accused will be presented in court in Udaipur, according to officials with knowledge of the situation. The primary suspect in the alleged question paper leak case, Bhupendra Saran, was first detained by Rajasthan Police in Bengaluru in February. The police later transported him to Udaipur.

The team of SOG and Rajasthan Police caught Saran from the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru. Police said that cases have been registered against him in two different police stations in Udaipur.
The SOG succeeded in arresting Saran after camping in Bengaluru for the last six days, the police said then.

NET to be conducted from 21 February to 10 March

December 29, 2022, 3:45 pm

The National Testing Agency on Thursday said UGC-National Eligibility Test (NET) is to be conducted from 21 February to 10 March 2023.

23 year old Visually impaired boy qualifies JRF exam

November 14, 2022, 12:53 pm

Mohammad Auyob Mir, a 23-year-old visually impaired has qualified junior research fellowship exam which was recently held. Auyob is a resident of northern Kashmir’s Kupwara district. He gradually started losing his vision as his age advanced.

By the time he entered class 12th at a government Higher Secondary school of Lolab, the same school where the country’s IAS topper Dr Shah Faisal got early education, he found himself as a 70 percent visually challenged person. Withstanding his condition and not compromising with the disability, he cleared the exam.

Ayoub did his schooling at a local government school, where he always topped his class with a huge percentage. “My participation was not conferred to academics only, I used to take part in quiz competitions and other school activities as well”, Ayoub said.
“However, my parents never let his blindness come in the way of his education. They provided me with every assistance I needed to continue my studies like other children,” he said and believed that he will be able to change his family’s fortune.

“We have seen difficult days. But all of that will end soon,” he added.

Auyob also mentioned that during his struggle days, there was a local teacher in his vicinity who guided him throughout and that he obtained great amount of support in his higher school and was encouraged to proceed towards his goals.

“However during the day, I am somehow able to move but as the evening comes, it becomes impossible for me to see anything,” he said.