NTA, the National Testing Agency, is in big trouble as the education ministry announced the UGC-NET cancellation on late June 19 after the Ministry of Home Affairs's inputs suggested that the examination integrity has been compromised. The UGC-NET (University Grants Commission- National Eligibility Test) is conducted by the NTA(National Testing Agency).
The orders issued at the time with NTA are already amid the controversy over NEET(National Eligibility Cum Entrance Tests) irregularities that are conducted for medical and other allied courses.
UGC-NET is conducted by NTA two times a year in June and December cycles respectively. This examination is conducted to determine the student’s eligibility for the post of Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor and also for PhD admissions.
The June cycle UGC-NET was conducted on 18th June all over centres in India in two shifts. On late 19th June, the Ministry of Education announced on Social media X,” Government is committed to ensure the sanctity of examinations and protect the interest of students.”
In addition to this, the Ministry of Education has decided that NTA-based UGC-NET 2024 jUne cycle examinations are cancelled based on the inputs from the Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (14C) prima facie under the Ministry of Home Affairs that indicates that the integrity of the examination has been compromised.
It also said that a fresh examination will be conducted for which the rest of the details will be shared soon. The matter is being handled by the CBI for a deep and thorough investigation as per the Ministry.
Students from the capital and student union from Jawaharlal Nehru University have said that they would protest for their rights in front of the Ministry on Thursday and would demand the resignation of the Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and UGC Chairperson with the removal of NTA and NEET.
NEET should be cancelled as per the Opposition. Right after the news of the cancellation of the NTA UGC NET, the opposition raised their voice to cancel the NEET as well. As per the congress minister Mallikarjun Kharge's statement on X,’ Cancellation of the NET exam is a victory of the spirit of millions of students”. And also added to his statement that this step is the defeat of the arrogance of the government of Modi.
