Amid the escalating controversy over NEET, the Ministry of Education has cancelled the UGC-NET exam, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), just a day after it was held
Over 9 lakh candidates had appeared for the exam, which determines eligibility for Assistant Professor posts in universities and colleges and for junior research fellowships.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra immediately reacted, criticizing the government for its “laxity” and demanding accountability.
Also read: NEET 2024 Candidate Ayushi Patel’s Forgery Scandal: High Court Dismisses Petition
In a statement, the Education Ministry announced that the June session of the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET), conducted in OMR (pen and paper) mode on Tuesday, has been cancelled. The decision followed inputs received on June 19, 2024, from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, suggesting that the integrity of the exam might have been compromised.
The UGC-NET is held twice a year, in June and December. On Tuesday, UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar had posted on X that the exam was successfully conducted in OMR mode across 1,205 centers in 317 cities, with about 81% of the 11,21,225 registered candidates appearing for the exam.
NEET Controversy
The NEET-UG 2024 for undergraduate medical courses, also conducted by the NTA, saw nearly 24 lakh students appearing for the exam on May 5, with results announced on June 4. Allegations of a question paper leak and the awarding of grace marks to over 1,500 students have sparked protests and legal challenges, including cases filed in the Supreme Court, which has criticized the NTA.
Regarding NEET, the ministry stated that the issue of grace marks has been fully addressed. For alleged irregularities in the conduct of the exam in Patna, a detailed report has been requested from the Economic Offences Unit of Bihar Police, with further action to be taken based on this report.
The ministry emphasized its commitment to ensuring the integrity of examinations and protecting students’ interests, promising strict action against any individuals or organizations found involved in compromising the exams’ integrity.
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