Guwahati: The Assam government has resolved to petition the central government for enhanced security measures at National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) examination centers, with a focus on implementing biometric verification for candidates at entry points.
This decision follows growing apprehension regarding students achieving high scores in the medical entrance exam despite demonstrating limited practical and academic knowledge.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, speaking to the media after a Cabinet meeting, disclosed that faculty members from state medical colleges had expressed concerns about the discrepancy between high NEET scores and the actual expertise of incoming students. Sarma revealed that an internal investigation by the Special Branch, initiated approximately eighteen months prior, had indicated that a significant portion of NEET examination centers were located in private institutions rather than government schools or colleges.
“While NEET is a national-level examination, we have now decided to intervene,” Sarma stated. The Cabinet has outlined three primary requests to be forwarded to the central government: conducting NEET examinations exclusively in government schools, ensuring the examination is supervised by district commissioners and superintendents of police, and implementing mandatory biometric verification for all candidates before entering the examination halls.
The Assam government has authorized the Chief Secretary to communicate these decisions to the National Testing Agency (NTA) Director General and the Union Education Secretary. Furthermore, Chief Minister Sarma intends to personally discuss these matters with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
In a related development, the Assam Cabinet has decided to revoke the quota for Char areas in MBBS/BDS admissions, effective from the 2025-26 academic session. Additionally, amendments will be introduced to the Act governing Srimanta Sankaradeva University of Health Sciences (SSUHS), mandating national security clearance and adherence to secular principles for the establishment of new healthcare institutions.
To regulate the increasing number of private coaching institutes, the government will introduce a bill during the ongoing budget session. The Cabinet has also allocated land for the development of mega industrial parks in Kamrup and Morigaon districts, and an industrial park with a smart township in Hajo.
Efforts to streamline the issuance of driving licenses will include the establishment of Accredited Driver Training Centres with automated driving testing tracks in each of Assam’s 126 constituencies. The government will also pursue UNESCO World Heritage Site status for Majuli and Sivasagar.
Chief Minister Sarma announced that Lt Gen (Retd) Rana Pratap Kalita will receive the ‘Assam Baibhav’ award, the state’s highest civilian honor. Six individuals will receive the ‘Assam Saurav’ award, and thirteen individuals and three organizations will be honored with the ‘Assam Gaurav’ award at a ceremony on March 30.