p>In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna first discuss the NEET exam paper leak and the subsequent developments.

In the second part of the discussions, the hosts discuss the austerity measures announced by PM Modi, including a ban on exports and judicious use of oil and gas.

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna first discuss the NEET exam paper leak and the subsequent developments.

They are joined by educationist and the founder of Career 360, Maheshwer Peri and TNM Associate Editor Nandini Chandrashekar.Dhanya starts the discussion by pointing out how the NEET exam paper leak is extremely disheartening for the lakhs of students who prepared for the test and have pinned their hopes on it.“This impacts over two and a half million students.

Those hoping to study abroad also now have no option but to submit an application without a score requirement.

The exam may be re-conducted, and the results may be expedited, but the problem is about the integrity of the exam being compromised.

But this happened earlier also, in 2024.

If those issues had been addressed, this could have been prevented.

The Radhakrishnan Committee report also should have been taken seriously, with respect to what went wrong,” says Maheshwer.Pooja points out that the NTA has been taking the fall so that the blame will not go to the government.

“When NEET was introduced in 2016, the argument was that there would be transparency.

Do you think this exam should be done away with?”“I am very disenchanted with the conduct of the exams.

It takes away the power of several students who do not go to coaching classes,” explains Maheshwer.

He also speaks about the urban-rural divide in disparity with respect to access to coaching.

He further speaks about how the schooling system can be balanced in a way that the training in schools can benefit those students wanting to attempt NEET.Nandini says that there is a lot of pressure on the coaching centres as well to bring in results.

“Most centres are mercenary, the way they deal with the exam preps and students.

The first question, of course, is money.

Those who have the money to buy a management seat, do not need to put their children through the trauma of such rigorous coaching.

Centres also have a segregation within themselves where the top few will have a different set of teachers and modules,” she points out.The panel then goes into a solution to NEET exam paper leaks, maintaining credibility of the process, and how coaching and exams itself have become a large industry.In the second part of the discussions, the hosts discuss the austerity measures announced by PM Modi, including a ban on exports and judicious use of oil and gas.

They are joined by journalist and founder....