Had Centre used AI for NEET, it would not have faced any issues: Sharad Pawar

Pune: NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday said the Centre would not have faced any issues related to NEET if it had effectively used artificial intelligence (AI) for conducting it.

After inaugurating the “technology on wheels” initiative of Vidya Pratishthan to introduce students to modern technology, Pawar spoke about the importance of AI in various sectors, including education. “Be it education, health or agriculture, AI is bringing tremendous transformation in every sector,” he said.

Commenting on the NEET paper leak, Pawar said, “Had the AI been used (by the govt) effectively, it (govt) would not have faced any issues.”

The National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the NEET-UG (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test) held on May 3 for admission to undergraduate medical courses after finding out that the question paper was leaked. The Centre has scheduled the re-examination for June 21. The CBI has made some arrests in the case.

Satirical platform “Cockroach Janta Party”, floated by Abhijeet Dipke who hails from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, started an agitation in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Saturday demanding resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak and the CBSE irregularities.

NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule supported the protesters’ demand and said the govt was not acting against its minister. “BJP speaks about constitutional morality while targeting members of the opposition, but why can’t it show the same morality and ask its minister to resign? It is quite unfortunate that the Centre is doing nothing despite the growing public anger,” Supriya told reporters in Pune.