The Ministry of Education announced the cancellation of the much-anticipated UGC-NET June 2024 examination that was scheduled to take place across various cities in India on the 18th of June, 2024. Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), the test was organized in two shifts using the OMR (pen and paper) mode.
Following the examination, the University Grants Commission (UGC) received alarming inputs from the Home Ministry's Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre and the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit (NCTAU) on the 19th of June, 2024. These inputs prima facie indicated possible discrepancies in the test that took place on Tuesday.
Deep Investigation by CBI Ensued
With the transparency of the examination process being paramount, the Ministry of Education decided to nullify the UGC-NET June 2024 examination. A thorough investigation has been entrusted to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and a fresh exam schedule will be shared separately. The government remains committed to maintaining the integrity of exams and safeguarding student interests.
Over 1.1 Million Candidates Affected
The Ministry stated, 'A new examination will be conducted, details of which will be shared in due course. The government is steadfast in its commitment to uphold the purity of exams and protect the rights of students.' It is noteworthy that over 1,121,225 candidates participated in the UGC NET June 2024 exams held across 317 cities in 1205 examination centers.
The timings for the NET exams held on June 18th were divided into a morning shift from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM, and an afternoon shift from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The NTA conducted tests for all 83 subjects on the same day.
Opposition Targets Government
The Congress took a swipe at the central government, suggesting, 'The Modi government is playing with the future of the youth. The government has now been labeled a 'paper leak government.' The Aam Aadmi Party also criticized the administration, stating, 'Under this government, the future of the nation is at risk, with millions of students sinking into a quagmire of disappointment every day.'
UGC NET Exam Pattern
The UGC NET exam comprises two papers with objective-type questions. Candidates are given three hours to complete 150 questions across both papers. Paper 1 is mandatory for all candidates, while Paper 2 varies depending on the subject. The UGC NET syllabus for Paper 1 includes 10 units, with 5 questions from each unit. Paper 1 consists of 50 questions, and Paper 2 consists of 100 questions with each question worth two marks. There is no negative marking in the UGC NET exam.
