New Delhi: The Ministry of Education has announced the cancellation of the UGC-NET exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), just one day after it took place. This decision comes amid controversy surrounding the NEET medical entrance exam, which is currently under Supreme Court review.
Unlike previous instances, this National Eligibility Test (NET) was administered in a pen-and-paper format. Approximately 81% of the 11.21 lakh registered candidates attended the exam, held in 317 cities across the country.
The cancellation was prompted by inputs from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), indicating potential compromises in the exam’s integrity, according to 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 canceled,” the ministry stated. “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 a thorough investigation,” it added.
About the UGC-NET Exam: The UGC-NET exam assesses Indian nationals for eligibility as ‘Assistant Professor’ and for ‘Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor’ roles in universities and colleges. Typically conducted by the NTA in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode twice annually (June and December), the exam’s cancellation marks a significant development affecting thousands of aspirants nationwide.
Candidates qualifying for Assistant Professorship are evaluated based on their performance in Paper I and Paper II of the UGC-NET exam. Those eligible for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) can pursue research or apply for Assistant Professorship, with specific rules varying by university, college, or state government.
The cancellation and subsequent investigation highlight critical issues in the examination process, impacting thousands of students across the country.
