The Ministry of Education has cancelled the UGC-NET exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), just a day after lakhs of students took it, allegedly over paper leak reports. The decision follows a massive controversy surrounding the NEET medical entrance exam, which is currently under Supreme Court review.
In a departure from previous years, the National Eligibility Test (NET) was conducted in a pen-and-paper format this time. Approximately 81% of the 11.21 lakh registered candidates appeared for the exam held in 317 cities nationwide.
The education ministry cited inputs that the integrity of the exam had been "compromised", received from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C).
"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 said in a statement.
"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 thorough investigation in the matter," 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. It is typically conducted by the NTA in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode twice annually (June and December).
Candidates qualifying for Assistant Professorship are considered based on their performance in Paper-I and Paper-II of the UGC-NET exam. Those eligible for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) can pursue research or apply for Assistant Professorship. Rules for Assistant Professors vary by university, college, or state government.
The cancellation and subsequent investigation mark a significant development in the examination process, impacting thousands of aspirants across the country.