The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced the cancellation of the UGC-NET June 2024 examination following preliminary indications that the integrity of the exam was compromised. The Ministry of Education released a statement on Wednesday emphasizing the importance of maintaining the highest standards of transparency and sanctity in the examination process.
“A fresh examination shall be conducted, for which information shall be shared separately,” the ministry stated, ensuring affected candidates that they would have another opportunity to sit for the exam. Additionally, the ministry has handed over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (C.B.I.) to thoroughly probe the matter.
The UGC-NET is a critical examination for determining the eligibility of Indian nationals for the roles of ‘Assistant Professor’ and ‘Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor’ in Indian universities and colleges. Conducted by the NTA in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode, the exam witnessed participation from around 81% of the over 11.21 lakh registered candidates, held in 317 cities across the country.
The UGC-NET examination, held biannually in June and December, covers 83 subjects and is conducted nationwide. This disruption is expected to affect thousands of candidates who had appeared for the exam on June 18, 2024. The NTA and UGC are working to reschedule the exam cycle and will provide further details soon.
This development comes in the wake of controversies surrounding other national exams, including allegations of irregularities in the NEET examination. The Ministry of Education has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the sanctity of all examinations and protecting students’ interests.
“Government will take strictest action against any individual or organization found to be involved in compromising the integrity of the examination process,” the ministry asserted.
As the investigation proceeds, candidates are advised to stay updated through official channels for announcements regarding the new examination dates and additional guidelines.
