According to a statement by the Ministry of Education, the cancellation was prompted by information from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), indicating possible compromises in the exam’s integrity.
The Ministry of Education clarified in a subsequent statement that only the UGC-NET June 2024 examination has been cancelled due to concerns about its integrity. This sudden decision led to confusion among parents and students.
What Education Ministry said today?
Following the cancellation of the UGC-NET exam, the Ministry of Education announced on Thursday that the entrance test may have been compromised based on initial findings. The ministry stated that no specific complaints were lodged regarding UGC-NET; however, they took proactive action based on available information.
Joint Secretary Govind Jaiswal stated that approximately nine lakh students participated in the June 18 exam conducted by NTA. The ministry observed potential irregularities in the exam’s conduct and consequently decided to cancel it.
UGC-NET New Exam Dates
The ministry also announced that new dates for the NET exam will be announced soon. Additionally, the matter has been referred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for further investigation.
Update on NEET Issues
Regarding NEET, a ministry spokesperson addressed three key issues: grace marks, alleged paper leaks in Bihar, and malpractice in Gujarat. The spokesperson clarified that the issue of grace marks has been resolved after their cancellation and the re-examination of affected candidates. Regarding the alleged paper leak, the government has requested a report from the Bihar government, and investigating agencies are currently probing the case. The education ministry secretary emphasized that they will take action based on detailed inputs from the Bihar police.
On NTA
Regarding NTA, the ministry highlighted that it is a new agency responsible for conducting exams for over 1 crore candidates. “We continually enhance exam processes based on feedback. A total of 83 subjects were involved; it’s a complex process,” said the secretary. “NTA transitioned to OMR based on past experiences. While we cannot react to every input or allegation, we ensure our responses align with the seriousness of the input and the credibility of its source.”