The Ministry of Education has taken the unprecedented step of cancelling the UGC-NET exam, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), merely a day after its completion. This decision comes in the wake of recent controversies surrounding the NEET medical entrance exam and is currently awaiting scrutiny by the Supreme Court.
In a departure from its usual Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode, this instance of the National Eligibility Test (NET) was conducted in a traditional pen-and-paper format. Despite this shift, a substantial 81% of the 11.21 lakh registered candidates participated in the exam, which spanned 317 cities nationwide.
The cancellation was spurred by alarming inputs received from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C). These inputs pointed towards potential compromises in the exam’s integrity, prompting swift action from the Education Ministry.
“To ensure the highest level of transparency and sanctity of the examination process, the Ministry of Education, Government of India has decided that the UGC-NET June 2024 Examination be cancelled,” the ministry stated in a released statement.
The ministry further added, “A fresh examination shall be conducted, for which information shall be shared separately. Simultaneously, the matter is being handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (C.B.I.) for thorough investigation in the matter.”
About the UGC-NET Exam:
The UGC-NET exam evaluates Indian nationals aspiring for eligibility as ‘Assistant Professor’ and for roles in ‘Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor’ positions in universities and colleges across India. Traditionally, the exam is conducted by the NTA twice a year (in June and December) in CBT mode.
Candidates seeking Assistant Professorship qualify based on their performance in Paper-I and Paper-II of the UGC-NET exam. Those qualifying for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) can pursue research or apply for Assistant Professorship roles, with specific regulations varying by institution and state government.
The cancellation of the UGC-NET exam and its subsequent investigation mark a significant development in the examination process, impacting a multitude of aspirants nationwide.
