NTA Announces New Dates for Postponed Exams Amid Controversies
New Delhi, 29th June 2024: The National Testing Agency (NTA) announced new dates for the cancelled and postponed exams, including the UGC-NET, on Friday night. The UGC-NET, initially held on June 18, will now take place from August 21 to September 4. The rescheduling follows allegations of irregularities in the exam’s conduct, including a reported question paper leak.
The Ministry of Education canceled the UGC-NET a day after it was held, citing compromised exam integrity. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan revealed that the question paper had been leaked on the darknet and circulated via the Telegram app. Despite the exam being conducted online in a single day, the fresh examination will revert to the earlier computer-based test pattern, spanning a fortnight.
The CSIR UGC-NET, postponed as a precautionary measure, is rescheduled for July 25 to July 27. Additionally, the National Common Entrance Test (NCET) for the four-year Integrated Teacher Education Program (ITEP) will now be held on July 10. This exam, originally set for June 12, was postponed just hours before its scheduled time due to a paper leak.
More than 11 lakh students participated in the June 18 NET exam, which was subsequently canceled due to the leak. The Ministry of Education has assigned the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is currently conducting raids in various locations.
The Ministry of Education disclosed that the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of the Cyber Crime Coordination Center (14C) of the Ministry of Home Affairs identified the irregularities. Following these findings, the government decided to cancel the compromised exam to maintain transparency and integrity.
