Amid mounting controversy over the NEET exams, the Ministry of Education abruptly cancelled the UGC-NET exam, conducted by the National Testing Agency, just a day after it took place. More than 9 lakh candidates had participated in this exam, crucial for securing Assistant Professor positions in universities and colleges, as well as eligibility for junior research fellowships.
The announcement drew swift criticism from Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who accused the government of negligence and demanded accountability.
In a statement, the Education Ministry disclosed that the June 2024 UGC-NET exam had been conducted nationwide on Tuesday in OMR (pen and paper) mode across two shifts. However, on June 19, 2024, the Ministry received concerning information from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs. This information suggested potential compromises to the integrity of the exam.
"In light of these inputs, the Ministry has decided to cancel the June 2024 examination to uphold the highest standards of transparency and integrity in the examination process," the statement read. The Ministry assured that a fresh exam date would be announced soon.
While there were unconfirmed reports of exam paper leaks, the Ministry clarified that the matter has been referred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for investigation.
The UGC-NET, conducted biannually in June and December, serves as a critical gateway for academic and research careers across India.
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