Belagavi: AIDSO opposes NEET exam task force

Published 27 July 2026 · education

AIDSO has opposed the Union government’s move to constitute a task force for suggesting NEET examination reforms, alleging that it was an attempt to divert

AIDSO has opposed the Union government’s move to constitute a task force for suggesting NEET examination reforms, alleging that it was an attempt to divert people’s attention from real issues. “Pan-India protests by the student community and youth forced the government to seek and accept the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Union Education Minister. However, they are not really interested in reforming the examination system. Two years ago, when there were similar problems in the NEET examination, Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to reform the system and appointed a task force to suggest measures. However, not one of its recommendations was implemented.

We suspect that the fate of the new task force headed by Nandan Nilekani will also meet the same fate,’’ Mahantesh Bailur, AIDSO district convener, said. “Students have been demanding accountability and responsibility regarding the NEET question paper leak issue. But the Union government has betrayed the student community once again. AIDSO condemns this action of the government in the strongest possible terms. Setting up a reform committee or making minor administrative tweaks is no solution. The NTA (Testing Agency) has completely failed to protect the interests of students. No reform is possible through the recommendations of such a committee.

Previous committees have brought about no real change. Leaving aside these eye-washing tactics, we demand that the government completely abolish the NTA. Had the government possessed a genuine intent to bring reforms, it would have appointed educationists, psychologists, and pedagogues instead of corporate IT executives. In the name of exam reforms, the Union government is betraying the country’s student community,’’ he said. “As stated by the Prime Minister, NEET will henceforth be shifted from ‘pen and paper’ mode to ‘online’ mode. Implementing such computer-based exams or digital surveillance models across semi-urban and rural areas will further deepen the digital divide.

Candidates who lack stable internet connectivity, uninterrupted power supply, or digital literacy will be structurally disadvantaged compared to urban students. This move is a direct attempt to restrict medical education to a few rich and privileged individuals, thereby pushing the vast majority of middle-class and poor populations away from medical education. AIDSO strongly opposes this. We demand that the government immediately withdraw its decision. Furthermore, we call upon the student community to continue the struggle against this ploy of the government and raise their voice against the NTA,’’ he said, according to a release.