The consensus of the meetings was to deploy at least three observers per exam centre, compared to the usual one observer appointed by the NTA(Representational/ File Photo)
Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla emphasised the importance of increased surveillance and safety and proposed that governments assign 1 civil and 1 police observer to each exam centre
In preparation for the All India Ayush Postgraduate Entrance Test (AIAPGET) and the Foreign Medical Graduate Exam (FMGE) scheduled for tomorrow July 6, the Home Ministry has taken decisive measures to ensure their smooth and secure conduct. Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla recently convened a crucial meeting with all state Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police (DGPs) to discuss the oversight and security of these exams.
Prompted by recent irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), this move aims to restore confidence in the integrity of national exams. Both AIAPGET and FMGE are conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), which has faced scrutiny over its handling of previous exams. The AIAPGET is an admissions test for MD/MS courses in Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the Ayush Ministry. The FMGE, which is administered biannually by the National Board of Examination (NBE) under the Health Ministry, assesses foreign medical graduates wanting to practise medicine in India.
According to sources, during the meeting, Bhalla emphasised the importance of increased surveillance and safety. He proposed that governments assign one civil and one police observer to each exam centre. These observers will be in charge of ensuring that the tests are carried out fairly and without misconduct. Furthermore, governments were urged to nominate a state-level nodal officer to work with the exam administration agency.
The decision to increase the number of observers comes after a series of high-level meetings involving the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Education, the Cabinet Secretariat, and the Prime Minister’s Office. The consensus was to deploy at least three observers per exam centre, compared to the usual one observer appointed by the NTA.
This intensified security measure follows significant controversies surrounding centrally conducted entrance tests. Recent allegations and arrests related to the NEET-UG paper leak have raised concerns about the integrity of these exams. In response, the government has been forced to review and strengthen its systems.
The Home Secretary’s meeting underscores the government’s commitment to preventing further irregularities. In addition to the NEET controversy, the Centre recently canceled the UGC-NET due to similar concerns and postponed the NEET-PG and CSIR-UGC NET as precautionary measures.
By implementing these stringent oversight measures, the Home Ministry aims to ensure the credibility and fairness of the upcoming AIAPGET and FMGE exams, thus maintaining the trust of aspiring medical professionals and the general public.
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