NEET exams will be held in government schools this year, said Himanta Biswa Sarma

Annually, 2.4 million students take NEET for medical seats. NEET 2025 will be held in 552 Indian and 14 international cities. NEET 2025 exam is scheduled for May 4th.

Kolkata: Assam's Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, announced in a Facebook Live session on Monday evening that the upcoming NEET entrance exams in the state will be held exclusively in government schools. This decision follows approval from Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, granted at Sarma's request, and aims to ensure exam integrity by mitigating potential irregularities associated with private examination centers. The state government has initiated further communication with the central government regarding this matter.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma explained 'I asked Dharmendra Pradhan ji whether we could conduct the NEET examination in govt schools under rigorous surveillance and security. He accepted my proposal, agreeing to implement changes for conducting NEET exclusively in govt schools of Assam. We have already communicated with the Union govt, and the NEET examination centres for May shall be established solely in Assam's govt schools.

To ensure fairness, district commissioners and superintendents of police will implement stringent surveillance measures in their respective districts. Sarma had previously expressed concerns about the conduct of NEET 2025 in private schools, citing minimal state government coordination and the inability to implement crucial integrity measures, unlike the Assam Direct Recruitment Examination.

'Comprehensive verification including fraudulent candidates, Aadhaar, biometric authentication shall be implemented. While not discrediting previous NEET selections, we aim to ensure enhanced scrutiny this year,' Sarma emphasized.

Historically, NEET has primarily been conducted in private schools and colleges, although NTA confirms occasional use of government institutions when feasible. Earlier this month, the Assam cabinet resolved to petition the central government to allocate NEET centers solely in government-operated schools to ensure fair and transparent conduct.

Sarma also highlighted concerns about the academic proficiency of some NEET entrants to state medical colleges, stating, 'Several professors have reported that while students secure high marks, their practical and academic proficiency remains limited. Despite fierce competition, their medical college performance proves inadequate.'

He further revealed that a year-long investigation by the Assam Police Special Branch found that many NEET centers in Assam are in private institutions in peripheral areas like Hojai and Hailakandi, rather than established government schools in Guwahati, such as Cotton Collegiate Higher Secondary School and Kamrup Academy. The state cabinet has authorized the Chief Secretary to communicate these decisions to NTA Director.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will this change apply to all NEET exams in Assam going forward? +

Ans: The announcement specifically addresses the upcoming NEET exam in May, but it implies a change in policy.

Were there concerns about past NEET exams in Assam? +

Ans: Yes, concerns about potential irregularities in private institutions and inadequate state government oversight.

What is the state government's overall goal with this change? +

Ans: To ensure transparency and fairness in the NEET exam process.

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