🔎🚨 The controversy around IAS officer Puja Khedkar | 🎓📝 Why IIT Madras thinks "no mass malpractice in NEET-UG"
Probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar is under the scanner for allegedly faking disability and OBC status to clear UPSC. Meanwhile, IIT Madras has found no evidence of malpractice in the NEET exams.
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Faking mental disability and OBC status to misuse of power: Controversies of trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar
Puja Khedkar, a probationary IAS officer, has come under scrutiny for allegedly faking disability and OBC status to clear the UPSC exam.
The skeletons tumbled out after a complaint was lodged against her by the state chief secretary due to her demands including personal peon and staff, not allowed for probationary officers.
Here’s a WhatsApp chat which triggered the action against her:
She allegedly used a “Maharashtra Govt” sign, and red-blue beacon on her private vehicle:
Is she an IAS officer? No, she is on probation. A probationary IAS officer is someone who has cleared the UPSC civil services exam and is undergoing the mandatory 2-year training period before being confirmed in service.
Puja Khedkar's father, Dilip Khedkar, is a retired state administrative officer from the Maharashtra state government.
Unusual demands: According to reports, before taking charge as Assistant Collector, she demanded a separate office, house, car, and staff.
She also asked for a designated cabin with an attached bathroom and refused one without it. These demands were deemed unusual for a probationary officer and were flagged to the Chief Secretary.
She also allegedly removed the nameplate of Additional Collector Ajay More's office to use the space for herself.
Certificate issues: She claimed multiple disabilities, including a learning disability, and sought special accommodations during her UPSC exam.
However, when she was asked to report to AIIMS, Delhi, in April 2022 for verification of her disability certificate she failed to do so, citing a Covid infection. The UPSC challenged her selection, but her MRI certificate was later accepted, confirming her IAS appointment.
Inconsistencies were found in her OBC status, after questions were raised about her eligibility for OBC non-creamy layer status.
Khedkar, classified under the OBC category with a creamy layer income cap of Rs 8 lakh, has a father with an annual income of Rs 49 lakh and assets estimated over Rs 100 crore.
The result: As a result of these controversies, Puja Khedkar has been transferred from Pune to Washim district, where she will serve as a supernumerary Assistant Collector until July 30, 2025.
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No indication of mass malpractice in NEET-UG: IITM after data analytics
The data analytics performed by IIT Madras revealed that there was "neither any indication of mass malpractice nor a localised set of candidates being benefitted leading to abnormal scores".
Here’s a summary of their findings:
What they’re saying: According to IIT-M, the marks distribution followed a bell-shaped curve, indicating normality:
Increase in high scores explained: There was an overall increase in marks obtained by students, particularly in the range of 550 to 720. However, this increase was attributed to the 25% reduction in syllabus for the 2024 exam.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) clarified that only 61 candidates actually scored a perfect 720 out of 720 marks, contrary to earlier reports of 67 candidates.
Of these 61 candidates, 17 obtained 720 marks based on provisional answer keys, and 44 achieved 720 marks due to a revision in one Physics answer key. The 61 perfect scorers were distributed across 58 centers in 41 cities, indicating that they may not have been connected in any way.
The NTA reported 153 cases of unfair means, with results withheld for 81 candidates and 54 candidates debarred for up to 3 years. Additionally, 16 FIRs have been registered regarding NEET-UG 2024 in various exam cities.
Yes, but: Despite the overall findings, the Supreme Court acknowledged a leak and use of unfair means at a few centers in Patna and Gujarat which compromised the sanctity of the exams. This suggests that while mass malpractice was not detected, localized issues did occur.
Of note: A high-powered panel led by ex-ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan, is evaluating US and UK entrance exams like the SAT, ACT, and UCAT as an alternative to NEET.
Considerations include adopting computer-based testing to replace the current pen-and-paper model used for exams like NEET.
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