Government’s big administrative attack at midnight amid NEET paper leak and fierce protests by CJP! What is the real secret behind Vineet Joshi’s departure? Know the whole truth about this sudden reshuffle.
IAS Naresh Gangwar Education Secretary: Amidst the nationwide outcry over the education system in the country and the NEET-UG paper leak, the Central Government has played an administrative move behind the scenes which has created a stir in the political circles. Late Thursday night, the government took a shocking decision and appointed IAS Naresh Pal Gangwar as the new secretary of the Higher Education Department. Gangwar replaces Vineet Joshi, who has now been moved to the Panchayati Raj ministry. But the question arises whether this is just a routine administrative transfer, or a desperate attempt by the government which is under siege after the paper leak to save its credibility?
Why did Vineet Joshi’s transfer become a topic of discussion?
Vineet Joshi was performing important responsibilities in the Education Ministry. After the retirement of Sanjay Kumar on June 30, he also took the additional charge of School Education Secretary. Apart from this, he was also performing the responsibility of acting Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC). Now sending him to the Panchayati Raj Ministry and appointing a new secretary in his place has raised many questions in the political and administrative circles. Although the government has called it a regular administrative process, its timing has made this change special.
CJP’s orgy at Jantar Mantar and echo of Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation
This reshuffle has taken place at a time when the sharp arrows of the satirical student movement ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ (CJP) and the opposition have shaken the spine of the Education Ministry. The entire opposition under the leadership of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and thousands of students gathered at Jantar Mantar are adamant on the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The sudden removal of Vineet Joshi, who was at the center of this entire controversy, who was not only holding the job of School Education Secretary after the retirement of Sanjay Kumar on June 30, but was also the acting Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), is an indication that all is not well within the ministry. Joshi had earlier held very sensitive positions like Director General of National Testing Agency (NTA) and Chairman of CBSE, due to which the opposition was already keeping an eye on him.
Read this also… After PM Modi’s announcement, Sonam Wangchuk ended her 26-day hunger strike, on what conditions did she agree?
‘Zero tolerance’ or political shield? Rijiju’s proposal in Parliament and the government’s new masterplan
With this unprecedented administrative earthquake, the government has also changed its strategy in Parliament. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has issued a statement saying that the government is fully ready for all kinds of discussions in Parliament on the issue of NEET paper leak, provided the rules are followed. On the other hand, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is surrounded by controversies, has raised the slogan of ‘zero tolerance’ (strict attitude) towards paper leaks and has assured of such action against the culprits which will set an example. The government has rushed to implement a raft of reforms, including re-conducting exams and converting the entire exam to a computer-based format (CBT) from next year.
Entry of new maharathis: Will Gangwar and Anil Kumar be able to resolve this complicated dispute?
Not only Naresh Pal Gangwar has entered this administrative surgery, but T.K. Anil Kumar has been appointed as the new School Education Secretary. While Gangwar was earlier posted as Secretary in the Animal Husbandry Ministry, Anil Kumar was holding the responsibility of Additional Secretary in the Rural Development Ministry. These two bureaucrats have been given the charge of the Education Ministry at a time when irregularities in the evaluation of CBSE board exams and the NEET-UG scam have completely destroyed the credibility of the ministry.
More big changes in the Ministry of Education
Along with the appointment of Naresh Pal Gangwar in the Higher Education Department, T.K. Anil Kumar has been made the new Secretary of School Education Department. Gangwar was earlier Secretary in the Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, while T.K. Anil Kumar was working as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Rural Development. These appointments are being considered an important step towards increasing administrative efficiency and bringing a new working style in the Ministry of Education.
Will administrative change stop the controversy?
The government believes that students’ confidence can be restored through institutional reforms, new appointments and changes in the examination system. But the opposition and agitating organizations say that mere transfer of officers will not solve the problem. His emphasis is on fixing accountability and comprehensive reforms in the education system. In such a situation, the biggest question is whether this major administrative reshuffle in the Education Ministry will be able to reduce the increasing political pressure, or will the NEET controversy and the demand for education reforms become a bigger challenge for the government in the coming days? Now it remains to be seen whether these new faces will be able to calm the anger of more than 22 lakh students of the country, or will this movement of the opposition and CJP die down only after the departure of Dharmendra Pradhan? The suspense still continues!
Read this also… 10 big headlines of July 24: Wangchuk’s fast ends, PM’s big announcement and increasing tension in the world