Amid the NEET paper leak row, the Centre has appointed Rajasthan cadre IAS Naresh Pal Gangwar as the new Higher Education Secretary, replacing Vineet Joshi.
Amid widespread protests across the country over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, especially NEET, the central government has taken a major administrative step.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has removed Union Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi from his post.
In his place, Naresh Pal Gangwar, a senior IAS officer of the 1994 batch from the Rajasthan cadre, has been appointed as the new Secretary of the Department of Higher Education in the Ministry of Education.
This appointment comes at a time when serious questions are being raised about the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and there is a growing demand for comprehensive reforms in the examination system.
All eyes are now on the working style of Naresh Pal Gangwar, who is expected to bring reforms to the NTA and the higher education system.
His biggest challenge will be to prevent paper leaks in national-level examinations and implement a foolproof security model.
Additionally, restoring the faith of millions of students and youth, who are disheartened by recent events, in the examination system will be a crucial task.
Naresh Pal Gangwar, who has taken charge of a sensitive department like the Ministry of Education, is an experienced and reputed officer of the Indian Administrative Service.
He is a 1994-batch IAS officer of the Rajasthan cadre and served in Rajasthan for about 25 years before coming on central deputation.
Prior to this new appointment, he was serving as the Secretary in the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying in the central government.
IAS Gangwar has a very strong technical academic background. He holds a B.Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering from IIT Roorkee.
He later obtained an M.Tech degree in Communication and Radar Engineering from IIT Delhi. He also holds an M.A. in Economics from the University of Rajasthan.
His administrative track record in Rajasthan has been excellent. He has served as a collector in several districts.
He is credited with playing a key role in formulating policies for the development of solar energy in Rajasthan, especially when the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission was in its initial phase.
The government was under pressure from all sides regarding irregularities in NEET and other exams. Meanwhile, Vineet Joshi, a 1992-batch IAS officer, has been transferred from the Department of Higher Education and made the Secretary in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
This move by the government is an attempt to send a message to millions of examinees in the country that the government is committed to ensuring accountability and bringing about major reforms in the examination system.
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