Education Ministry Cancels UGC-NET Exam, says ‘Integrity of Examination Compromised’

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 20th June. The Ministry of Education has cancelled the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET), just a day after it was conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Over 9 lakh candidates had appeared for the exam, which is crucial for Assistant Professor positions in universities and colleges and for determining eligibility for junior research fellowships.

The cancellation has sparked immediate political reactions, with Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticizing the government for its “laxity” and calling for accountability to be fixed.

Ministry’s Statement

In an official statement, the Education Ministry said the UGC-NET exam was held on June 18, 2024, in OMR (pen and paper) mode across two shifts nationwide. “On 19th June, 2024, the University Grants Commission (UGC) received certain inputs from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs. These inputs prima facie indicate that the integrity of the examination may have been compromised,” the statement read.

The ministry emphasized that the decision to cancel the June 2024 examination was made “to ensure the highest level of transparency and sanctity of the examination process.” The exam will be rescheduled, and new dates will be announced later.

There have been unconfirmed reports of the examination paper being leaked. The ministry has referred the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a thorough investigation.

UGC-NET Examination Details

The UGC-NET is a biannual examination conducted in June and December. On Tuesday, UGC Chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar had praised the successful completion of the UGC-NET June 2024 session on social media, noting that the exam was conducted in 1,205 centers across 317 cities for 11,21,225 registered candidates, with an 81% attendance rate.

NEET Controversy

The cancellation of the UGC-NET comes amid ongoing controversy surrounding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for undergraduate medical courses, which saw nearly 24 lakh candidates on May 5. The NEET results were announced on June 4, ahead of schedule, but allegations of a question paper leak and the awarding of grace marks to over 1,500 students have led to widespread protests and legal challenges, including scrutiny from the Supreme Court.

Regarding the NEET issue, the ministry stated, “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. The government will take further action upon receipt of this report.”

Government’s Assurance

“The government is committed to ensuring the sanctity of examinations and protecting the interests of students. It is reiterated that any individual or organization found to be involved in this matter will face the strictest action,” the ministry added.