Guwahati, April 14: The Assam government is set to launch a fresh crackdown on private NEET exam centres after investigations revealed glaring inconsistencies—students scoring abnormally high marks but underperforming in classrooms.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday held a video conference with the Director General of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and his team, following findings from a discreet Special Branch (SB) probe by Assam Police. The investigation suggested that several students who cleared NEET from private centres showed unusually high scores not reflected in their academic abilities.
“Some private exam centres are under suspicion. The @assampolice probe flagged cases where students cleared NEET with unusually high marks from these centres,” Sarma said in a post on X after the meeting.
Initial findings revealed that most NEET centres in Assam were located in private institutions, raising serious doubts about the integrity of the examination process. In response, the state has recommended that all NEET centres be shifted to government or government-aided institutions.
The Assam government has proposed some reforms in the exam system including conducting exams only in government or govt-aided colleges, Aadhar-based and biometric verification at exam centres, full CCTV surveillance of examination halls, strict SOPs for frisking and handling of exam materials, mandatory inspection of centres by District Commissioners (DCs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs), deployment of senior civil and police officials to oversee exam procedures, sanitation protocols at exam venues and zero tolerance for malpractice and strict legal action against violators.
Sarma emphasized that NEET, being a critical exam for medical aspirants, must be held with absolute transparency. “We are committed to holding every exam with the highest level of integrity,” he stated.
This renewed focus follows the Assam Cabinet’s March 9 decision to address irregularities in NEET and overhaul the exam framework in the state. The state will also recommend that the central government allow direct monitoring of NEET by DCs and SPs for better transparency and accountability.
The Assam Police’s findings and Sarma’s proactive stance signal a major shift in how competitive exams will be managed in the state moving forward.
