UGC-NET cancelled day after exam, testing panel says ‘may have been compromised’
The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Wednesday decided to cancel the UGC-NET (University Grants Commission – National Eligibility Test) exam, a day after it was conducted, saying the “integrity of the examination may have been compromised”.
The UGC-NET was conducted on June 18, Tuesday, at 1205 exam centres in 317 cities across the country. Over 11 lakh candidates appeared for the exam.
However, the NTA said the University Grants Commission (UGC) received certain inputs which indicated that the integrity of the examination may have been compromised.
The matter is being handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for thorough investigation, the NTA said.
These inputs raising questions on the exam’s integrity were received from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs on the Examination.
“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. A fresh examination shall be conducted, for which information shall be shared separately,” the NTA said in a statement.
UGC-NET is conducted to determine the eligibility for the position of Assistant Professor and/or Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Indian universities and colleges.
The development comes amid similar discrepancies have been reported in NEET-UG 2024 examination, with allegations of question paper leaks being raised in states like Bihar.
As many as 67 students scored a perfect 720, unprecedented in the NTA’s history, with six from a centre in Haryana’s Faridabad figuring in the list, raising suspicions about irregularities. It has been alleged that grace marks contributed to 67 students sharing the top rank.
The NEET-UG examination is conducted by the NTA for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.
Regarding the NEET-UG exam, the NTA said, “The issue related to grace marks has already been fully addressed. As regards certain irregularities alleged in the conduct of the examination in Patna, a detailed report has been sought from the Economic Offences Unit, Bihar Police. Government will take further action, on receipt of this report.”
“Government is committed to ensure the sanctity of examinations and protect the interest of students. It is reiterated that any individual/organization found to be involved in this matter will face strictest action,” it added.