Govt to probe NEET data leak allegation

Medical Education Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday said he would order an internal inquiry to ascertain the veracity of charges that personal information and academic data of students who appeared for National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET) had been leaked.

Replying to a question by V Somanna (BJP) in the Legislative Assembly, Shivakumar said that while no official complaint had been received regarding the data leak, an inquiry would be conducted to ascertain whether there had been any lapses.

In July, Congress president Rahul Gandhi had shot off a letter to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), based on media reports claiming massive breach of NEET students’ data, demanding a through inquiry. Personal details of over 2 lakh students who appeared for NEET were reportedly available for sale on some online portals.

Somanna charged that the leaked data was being sold with a promise to students and parents that medical seats would be provided based on the information. While NEET is an all India test, the state’s government inquiry will be confined to Karnataka. Shivakumar said he would take up the demand that NEET also be conducted in Kannada with the Centre.

To another question, by D Vedavyasa Kamath (BJP), Higher Education Minister G T Devegowda said a detailed report has been sought on charges of irregularities pertaining to purchases in Mangalore University.

Devegowda said there had been media reports about irregularities in purchase of furniture, laptops, desktops, CCTV cameras, solar streetlights for the camps among others. University authorities have been directed to submit a report within a month.