AMID PAPER LEAK ROW, NTA ANNOUNCES FRESH EXAM DATES, UGC-NET TO BE HELD FROM AUG 21-SEPT 4

NEET UG Row: Amid controversy over alleged irregularities in competitive exams, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has released new dates for previously cancelled and postponed exams, announcing the UGC-NET will now be held from August 21 to September 4. The University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET), initially held on June 18, was cancelled a day after reports indicated a breach of the exam's integrity.

Recently, the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also said the question paper was leaked on the darknet and circulated on the Telegram app. The matter is being probed by the CBI.

ALSO READ: Delhi Weather: Five Dead As Torrential Rains Pound National Capital; IMD Predicts ‘Very Heavy Rainfall’ Till July 1

The UGC-NET is a test to determine the eligibility for the award of a Junior Research Fellowship, for appointment of assistant professors and admission to PhD courses. In a shift from the earlier pattern, this year, the exam was conducted in offline mode and on a single day. However, the rescheduled exam will be conducted according to the earlier pattern of Computer Based Test (CBT) spread across a fortnight.

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) UGC-NET, which was postponed as a preemptive measure due to the controversy, will now be held from July 25 to July 27. The CSIR UGC-NET is accepted for PhD admissions in Chemical Sciences, Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Physical Sciences.

The National Common Entrance Test (NCET) for admission to the four-year Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP), which was postponed before its scheduled commencement on June 12, will now be conducted on July 10. The test is held for select central and state universities or institutions, including IITs, NITs, RIEs, and government colleges.

In response to allegations of irregularities in the NEET-UG and PhD entrance NET exams, the government has established a panel to ensure fair and transparent examinations conducted by the NTA. The NEET is under scrutiny for alleged paper leaks and other issues, while the UGC-NET was cancelled due to similar concerns. Two other exams — CSIR-UGC NET and NEET-PG — were cancelled as a preemptive step.

(With Agencies Inputs)