Journalism of Courage
New Education Minister Pralhad Joshi summons NTA officials to his residence
None of the 41 questions listed for the education minister to answer in Lok Sabha on Monday relates to the NEET question paper leak.
Pralhad Joshi during a meeting after taking over as the Union education minister in New Delhi. (PTI Photo)
Union minister Pralhad Joshi held review meetings with top officials after taking over as the new education minister on Sunday following the resignation of his predecessor Dharmendra Pradhan amid student protests over the NEET question paper leak.
It is learnt that Joshi has called a separate meeting of officials from the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts NEET and other competitive exams like UGC NET and CUET, at his residence in the evening.
Joshi, who is also the Union food and consumer affairs minister, reached Kartavya Bhawan, which houses the education ministry, around 11.30 am and took charge of his new portfolio. While Minister of State Jayant Chaudhary was present during the review meeting, another MoS in the ministry, Sukanta Majumdar, was absent as he was away.
The newly appointed school education secretary, T K Anil Kumar, briefed the minister. Thereafter, the outgoing higher secretary Vineet Joshi, who was removed following the NEET paper leak controversy, briefed the minister. They made separate presentations about the schemes and programmes run by the ministry.
Joshi is learnt to have flagged a delay in the availability of basic items like uniforms in schools.
As Parliament resumes on Monday, 41 questions—three of them starred—have been listed for response from the education ministry. For starred questions, the minister has to give oral replies to supplementary questions asked by the members, while the unstarred questions are answered with a written reply only.
While Joshi will be present in the House tomorrow, if Lok Sabha functions during the Question Hour, he, along with his two deputies, will reply to starred questions.
YSRCP MPs’ question about Andhra Pradesh recruitment exam
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While there is no direct question on NEET, two members of Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy’s Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) have asked an unstarred question about a teacher recruitment examination in Andhra Pradesh that references a question paper leak.
YSRCP MPs P V Midhun Reddy and Dr Gumma Thanuja Rani have asked whether the central government has taken cognisance of reports and representations alleging irregularities in the Mega District Selection Committee (Mega DSC) teacher recruitment examination conducted in Andhra Pradesh, including allegations related to question paper security, recruitment procedures, and sports quota appointments.
They have also asked whether the central government has sought any report or clarification from the Andhra Pradesh government or any other agency regarding the allegations. They also want to know if the central government proposes to issue any advisory or framework for states to strengthen examination security, prevent paper leaks, and ensure transparency and accountability in large-scale public examinations.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
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