Published 14:33 IST, June 20th 2024
Was Cancellation of UGC NET Planned? Candidates Reveal Admit Cards Not Collected Despite Instruction
Was UGC NET cancellation pre-planned? Candidates revealed that invigilators did not collect admit cards despite clear written instructions given in the booklet.
New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) made an unprecedented decision on June 19 to cancel the UGC-NET June 2024 Examination following concerns raised by the Ministry of Home Affairs' National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit (I4C). The cancellation comes amidst suspicions that the integrity of the exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) may have been compromised. In response, the Ministry of Education announced that a fresh examination will be scheduled, with details to be released soon.
Republic World spoke with several candidates who participated in the UGC-NET June 2024 exam held on June 18, revealing a striking deviation from normal protocol. Despite explicit instructions printed on the question paper requiring candidates to surrender their admit cards post-exam, invigilators reportedly allowed candidates to retain them.
Additionally, candidates highlighted another anomaly - the absence of carbon copies of their OMR sheets. Typically, in OMR-based tests, candidates receive a carbon copy of their filled OMR sheet after the exam to verify their responses and potentially challenge them if necessary. The lack of this standard practice further adds to the discrepancies observed during the UGC-NET June 2024 exam.
Akanksha Seth, a candidate who took the UGC-NET on June 18, expressed concern over these deviations, stating, “Not only were we allowed to keep our admit cards despite clear instructions, but we also did not receive carbon copies of our OMR sheets. These practices are highly irregular and raise serious questions about the handling of the examination.”
The retention of admit cards with thumb impressions and holographic marks is crucial for verifying candidates' identities and maintaining the integrity of the examination process. Despite these requirements, candidates were allowed to take their admit cards home, raising questions about the preparedness and intentions behind the cancellation of the UGC-NET June 2024 exam.
As the controversy unfolds, candidates and stakeholders await further clarification from the authorities regarding the cancellation and the scheduling of a new examination. The issue remains under scrutiny, with concerns mounting over the transparency and handling of the entire UGC-NET examination process.
Students across the nation are raising their voices against NTA and have demanded free and fair conduct of the exam from the government. Student union, NSUI also staged a protest outside the education ministry on Thursday against the irregularities in the exam.
No Carbon Copies, Poor Management: UGC NET Candidates Allege Major Loopholes After NEET Controversy
Updated 17:59 IST, June 20th 2024