NEET Exam Controversy: SFI and AISF Call for Nationwide Education Strike Tomorrow

New Delhi: The Student’s Federation of India (SFI) and the All India Students’ Federation (AISF), both supported by Left parties, have announced a nationwide education strike on Thursday. They are protesting against alleged problems in several competitive exams conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

The student groups are calling for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. They hold him responsible for the issues in the recent NEET and UGC NET exams.

On Wednesday, various student groups from the INDIA bloc parties protested at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Along with SFI and AISF, the All India Students Association (AISA), Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha, and the Congress’ student wing, National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), also joined the protest. Their demands include scrapping the NTA, the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, and decentralizing entrance tests.

In response to the alleged problems in the NEET and PhD entrance NET exams, the government removed NTA Director General Subodh Singh last week. They also set up a high-level panel led by former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief R Radhakrishnan to ensure exams are conducted transparently, smoothly, and fairly through the NTA.

The NEET exam is under scrutiny for several issues, including alleged paper leaks. The UGC-NET exam was canceled because the education ministry received information that the exam’s integrity was compromised. Both cases are being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Additionally, two other exams, the CSIR-UGC NET and NEET-PG, were canceled as a precautionary measure.

(With PTI inputs)