The government announced on Wednesday that the UGC-NET exam held on June 18 is cancelled because it might have been compromised.
This time, the exam was held in a new format: it was a pen and paper test conducted on a single day. Previously, it was a computer-based test held in two shifts for each subject.
On Wednesday, the government unexpectedly announced that the UGC-NET exams held two days earlier were cancelled because they might have been compromised. The Central Bureau of Investigation will look into the matter.
What is UGC NET exam?
The UGC NET, or National Eligibility Test, is a national exam used to hire assistant professors, award junior research fellowships, and admit students to PhD programs in universities.
Updates about the UGC-NET exam
After cancelling the exam, the government explained that the decision was based on information from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C). This information suggested that the exam’s integrity might have been compromised, according to a press release from the education ministry.
When will the new UGC-NET exam be held?
The government said a new exam will be scheduled, and the dates will be announced later. A record 1.1 million candidates had registered for the exam.
This time, the exam was given in a new format: a pen and paper test conducted on a single day. Previously, it was held in two shifts per subject as a computer-based test.
NTA is under increased scrutiny
The situation arises amid ongoing controversy over alleged issues with the NEET-UG 2024 medical entrance exam. The Supreme Court is currently hearing the case and emphasized on Tuesday that it wants zero negligence, urging the Centre and the National Testing Agency to admit if any mistakes were made.
The outcome of the NEET-UG 2024 exam, held on May 5, revealed that 67 students achieved the highest rank, marking an unprecedented occurrence in the exam’s history.
As the situation became a heated political battle between the government and the opposition, with candidates protesting nationwide, the education ministry informed the Supreme Court on June 10 that the extra marks awarded to more than 1,500 candidates in the exam would be revoked. These candidates will have the opportunity to take the exam again, which is set for June 23. The opposition criticized the Modi government for alleged “exam paper leaks.”
Akhilesh Yadav, leader of the Samajwadi Party, criticized the Narendra Modi government on Wednesday when the UGC-NET announcement was made, saying, “This government won’t be here for long.”
Social media was filled with trending hashtags related to the controversy over the exam, with the public criticizing the Centre and NTA for not fulfilling their responsibilities.
Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress President, also criticized Prime Minister Modi on ‘X’, questioning his silence on the issue. “This shows the Modi government’s failure, as they tried to harm the future of our youth,” he said, demanding the cancellation of NEET exams.
He further asked the Centre to take responsibility for the NEET-UG “paper leaks” as well.
