Jharkhand: Palamu NEET exam crisis averted after 5-hour delay
Daltonganj, May 4: The Palamu administration averted an “imminent collapse” of the NEET UG examination for 48 candidates at Yodh Singh Namdhari…
Image: Telegraph India
Daltonganj, May 4: The Palamu administration averted an “imminent collapse” of the NEET UG examination for 48 candidates at Yodh Singh Namdhari Mahila College in Daltonganj on Sunday after a shortage of Hindi question booklets caused a major delay.
All 48 missing question booklets were in the Hindi version, leading to a nearly five-hour delay in conducting the examination. The situation had raised concerns of a complete disruption of the exam process for the affected candidates.
Exam Held After Five-Hour Delay
The examination, originally scheduled for 2 pm, finally began at 6:55 pm and continued till 9:55 pm. Out of the 48 candidates, 45 appeared for the test, while three had not reported to the centre at the scheduled time.
Administration Uses Photocopies to Conduct Exam
To manage the crisis, the administration arranged photocopies of the question papers. More than 3,000 pages were prepared, as each booklet contained 64 pages. The entire photocopying process was carried out with strict confidentiality.
Sources said such large-scale photocopying of question papers for a national-level examination had not been witnessed earlier in Palamu. Despite the delay, officials ensured the accuracy and smooth conduct of the exam.
Deputy Commissioner Dilip Pratap Singh Shekhawat, who also served as the examination director, remained composed and led the effort to complete the exam under challenging circumstances.
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The examination centre reportedly took 40–45 minutes to inform the administration about the shortage. Meanwhile, limited communication with the media and the public added to confusion and anxiety.
Initial information was shared informally by a PRD personnel through the college gate. Later, Sadar SDO Sulochana Meena briefed journalists, providing clarity on the situation.
Parents Wait for Hours, Tension Outside Centre
Parents and guardians waited outside the examination centre for several hours, growing increasingly anxious due to the lack of timely updates. The restricted flow of information led to frustration among those gathered.
A large crowd remained outside the college gate, and minor tension was reported when three individuals attempted to create a disturbance. Police used mild force to control the situation and detained them. They were released on Monday afternoon on the orders of SP Kapil Chaudhary.
“It was a preventive detention. Such elements need to be dealt with firmly,” the SP told The Jharkhand Story Network.
NTA Expected to Explain Lapse
The National Testing Agency (NTA) is expected to explain the shortage of Hindi question booklets that led to the disruption. Despite the lapse, the local administration managed to conduct the examination successfully.
Officials also appreciated the role of invigilators, who reported for duty even at night to ensure the exam could be completed.
