The Union training ministry on Wednesday cancelled the UGC-NET examination a day after it was performed and mentioned the integrity of the method could have been compromised, doubtlessly jeopardising the futures of 900,000 college students who appeared for the take a look at.
The announcement provides fireplace to a swirling controversy round skewed outcomes and allegations of paper leaks which have vitiated the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test this yr, and can spark extra questions concerning the processes adopted by the National Testing Agency.
Centre cancels UGC-NET after reviews of ‘integrity of exam being compromised’
The University Grants Commission (UGC) National Eligibility Test (NET) is performed by the National Testing Agency twice a yr for PhD admissions, assistant professorship and for the awarding of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF).
The June version of the examination was held on June 18 with 908, 580 candidates showing at 1, 200 centres, taking the take a look at 83 topics utilizing pen and paper on OMR sheets.
But 24 hours later, the training ministry mentioned that the UGC, India’s increased training regulator, obtained sure inputs from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) underneath the house ministry on the examination.
“These inputs prima-facie indicate that the integrity of the aforesaid examination may have been compromised,” the ministry mentioned in an announcement.
“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 added.
A recent examination will probably be performed and knowledge will probably be shared individually. “Simultaneously, the matter is being handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (C.B.I.) for thorough investigation in the matter,” the ministry mentioned.
The unprecedented developments got here in a yr NTA determined to maneuver away from the computerised take a look at format and maintain the examination bodily on a single day. This was the primary time after 5 years {that a} bodily NET examination was held.
The delay within the UGC-NET examination will virtually definitely have an effect on PhD admission schedules as universities throughout India rely upon NET scores to resolve benefit lists.
Kamalakar Shete, UGC-NET candidate and scholar activist, mentioned that he was deeply involved by the incident.
“This situation underscores the critical need for robust and foolproof security measures in our examination system. While the decision to cancel the examination is disappointing for all candidates who have invested considerable time and effort in preparation, it is a necessary step to uphold the fairness and credibility of the examination process,” he mentioned.
“I urge the authorities to act swiftly and transparently in rescheduling the exam and implementing stronger security measures to restore confidence in the examination system,” he mentioned.
The cancellation comes at a time chaos is engulfing India’s premier medical entrance examination. For weeks, protests have swept throughout India as hundreds of scholars hit the streets towards this yr’s course of amid allegations of query paper leaks, inflated marking and arbitrary allowance of grace marks, whilst opposition events known as for a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the allegations.
The authorities has repeatedly mentioned it won’t tolerate malpractice and irregularities but in addition dominated out scrapping the complete examination over what it calls had been issues in a handful of centres.
This yr’s NEET has been shrouded in controversy after allegations surfaced that in a single centre in Rajasthan, college students showing for the Hindi medium take a look at acquired query papers in English amid reviews of torn OMR sheets and delay in distribution of query papers. A case was lodged in Patna over an alleged paper leak, after which the police arrested 13 folks concerned in fixing query papers and supplying solutions as a part of a racket. The arrested folks embody 4 examinees.
At least 10 petitions have been filed within the high courtroom since then. Almost all of them will probably be heard on July 8 by a bench doubtless headed by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud. In all 2.4 million college students sat for NEET at 4,750 centres unfold throughout 571 cities world wide.
UGC NET June 2024 examination cancelled, Education Ministry says integrity of examination might need been compromised
On Wednesday, the training ministry mentioned an in depth report was sought from the Economic Offences Unit, Bihar Police in reference to sure irregularities alleged within the conduct of the NEET examination in Patna.
“The government is committed to ensure the sanctity of examinations and protect the interest of students. It is reiterated that any individual/organisation found to be involved in this matter will face strictest action,” the ministry mentioned.
Source: www.hindustantimes.com
