'Those Playing With Youth's Future Will Not Be Spared': PM Modi Says Govt Serious On Paper Leak Issue

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that those involved in paper leak will not be spared and the government is serious about the issue.

Replying to the debate on Motion of Thanks on the President’s address in the Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister said a law is made to address the paper leak issue and necessary steps are being taken to strengthen the education system.

“I would like to tell every student and youth of the country that the government is very serious about preventing such incidents. One step after another is being taken to fulfill its responsibilities. Those who play with the future of the youth will not be spared. Continuous arrests are being made across the country in the NEET case…,” he said.

In her address to a joint sitting of Parliament, President Droupadi Murmu said the government is fully committed to investigating the recent incidents of paper leaks and ensure that the guilty are punished.

“If due to any reason there is obstruction in examinations it is not appropriate. Sanctity, transparency are a must in government recruitments and examinations,” she said.

“The government is committed to conduct fair investigation and ensure the most stringent punishment to those guilty in the recent incidents of paper leak,” she said.

There were incidents of paper leaks in some states earlier as well, the president said, stressing that there is need to rise above partisan politics and take strong steps at the national level.

The president added that Parliament has also made a strong law against paper leaks. She added that the government is working to bring reforms in the examination process.

The CBI has registered six FIRs in the NEET-UG paper leak case, which include its own FIR on a reference from the Union education ministry and five from the states where it took over the investigation.

The probe agency has taken over one case each in Bihar and Gujarat and three in Rajasthan.

NEET-UG is conducted by the NTA for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions.

This year’s exam was conducted on May 5 at 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 abroad. More than 23 lakh candidates had appeared for the test.

The first CBI FIR was registered on June 23, a day after the ministry announced it would hand over the probe into the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the exam to the central agency.