The Ministry of Education has taken the unprecedented decision to cancel the UGC-NET (University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test) June 2024 examination following serious concerns regarding its integrity. This decision, announced on Wednesday night, affects approximately 11 lakh students across India who were scheduled to appear for the exam.
The cancellation was prompted by inputs received from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Ministry of Home Affairs. These inputs indicated potential compromises in the examination process, necessitating immediate action to maintain the credibility and fairness of the UGC-NET.
The UGC-NET is crucial for determining the eligibility of Indian nationals for roles as assistant professors or for junior research fellowships and assistant professors in universities and colleges nationwide. Typically conducted twice a year by the National Testing Agency (NTA), this year’s exam was conducted in a pen-and-paper mode on June 18, departing from its usual computer-based format.
In response to the cancellation, the Ministry of Education stated that new dates for the UGC-NET exam will be announced soon. The matter has also been referred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for further investigation, underscoring the seriousness with which the government is addressing the issue.
This development has stirred widespread concern among aspirants and stakeholders in the education sector, who await further updates on the re-conduct of the examination.
