Irregularities and paper leaks in competitive exams are not uncommon. It has been happening regularly in the past too, but the manner in which the NTA conducted NEET UG 2024 is a glaring example of of overconfidence and audacity that no action will be taken against them has become the talk of the town and has eroded the sanctity of the examination conducting agency, education ministry and many others, all in one go.

The IMA National President has, on behalf of the medical profession profusely thanked the government and associated ministries for taking immediate corrective measures to salvage NTA's already tarnished image among students, their parents and other like minded organisations in anticipation of some concessions for the medical fraternity particularly with respect to Medical Negligence on Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita. He also claimed to have been successful in reducing the imprisonment period from the proposed five years to two years but what about our respected Home Minister's assertion that an official amendment will be done to free doctors from Criminal Negligence ? I suppose this was also something that the IMA had demanded !!! Many doctors like me have already crossed the age of financial struggle and will be little affected, but what gift is the present IMA Leadership giving to our very own IMA Medical Students' Network and IMA Junior Doctors' Network ? I am pretty sure that the coming generation of doctors will not forgive our National President and his executive for not doing their duties properly, being complacent and for not living upto their expectations and being satisfied with whatever little was thrown at them. I felt that instead of hurriedly displaying a hurried two page explanation, it would have been better if our responsible National President or some other office bearer had presented the minutes of the meetings with the PM/HM/Health Minister or atleast the outcome of such important meetings !! Is there anything big that is being requested that cannot be disclosed ?

In Modern Medicine, merely providing temporary symptomatic relief is not enough, dwelling deep and diagnosing the disease is more important for its treatment. Likewise, our good talent search, good education, good training and most importantly our good examination system are imperative in helping every student to excel and it is not wise to centralise these through the NTA or any other examination conducting agency for there will always be self centred, ambitious and immoral persons , who will not spare occasion to convert this into a money spinning racket.

Even our very own Babasaheb Ambedkar had once commented that good and stringent laws may not be enough, but would largely depend upon those that are responsible for its implementation or getting them implemented.

In a vast country such as ours, decentralisation of competitive exams can definitely be another option, considering the sanctity, working environment and quality of passouts. This is being practiced successfully in many countries and needs to be emulated.

To conclude, all issues related to education and competitive exams should be looked into and dealt with by an Expert Committee comprising of national/ international scholar who will study the entire matter in detail and provide permanent solutions and not adhoc temporary remedial measures.