NEET PG date will be announced ‘by Monday or Tuesday’: Education Minister

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the Congress should not politicise the exam issue, pointing out that ‘such discrepancies used to take place before 2014 as well’.

examination reforms, ministry of education, dharmendra Pradhan, NTA, paper leaks, suggestions on paper leaks, NTA, Indian express news

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan (File Photo)

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Saturday that the National Board of Examinations (NBE) will announce the new date for this year’s National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, Postgraduate (NEET PG) by “Monday or Tuesday”.

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Pradhan made the statement on Saturday in Haryana’s Panchkula ahead of an event where Union Home Minister Amit Shah was to address the BJP executive meeting of party workers.

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The NBE had postponed the NEET PG on June 22, a few hours before the exam was scheduled to be held on June 23. “To my knowledge, NBE will soon be announcing the date of the NEET PG exam by Monday or Tuesday…,” Pradhan said.

Interacting with the media before Shah’s visit, Pradhan, who is facing heat from the Opposition over the alleged irregularities and leaks in the NEET-UG and the subsequent cancellation or postponement of other major exams, said that “though he was not justifying it, such discrepancies used to take place before 2014 as well”.

“The President herself spoke about the exam…Yes, there are some challenges and we have to look into that and eradicate all the problems and the government is ready for a discussion on that. The Congress wants to run away from a discussion and wants to politicise the issue. Their only intent is to create chaos, confusion and create obstacles in the way of smooth functioning,” Pradhan said.

“Ye avsar nahi hai rajnitik rotiyan sekhne ka… (This is not the time to play politics),” Pradhan said, referring to the Congress.

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Pradhan said that the Centre has taken several steps like changing the leadership at the National Testing Agency (NTA), setting up a high-powered committee under former ISRO chairman Dr K Radhakrishnan to address issues with the NTA, and introducing a new law to tackle with “public examination disruption”. The government, Pradhan added, is concerned about students’ anxiety and will be doing its best to address the same.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More