The National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for conducting the UGC-NET, is already under scrutiny for alleged irregularities in the NEET exam, the single-window entrance test for MBBS programs in India. Meanwhile, several student wings of political parties have staged protests outside the Education Ministry in Delhi, demanding accountability and swift action to ensure such issues do not recur.
In an unprecedented move, the Education Ministry has scrapped the University Grants Commission’s National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) held on Tuesday, citing concerns over the exam’s integrity.
Over 9,00,000 candidates from across India appeared for this first part of the test, which determines eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship, PhD programs, and Assistant Professor posts.
This decision marks the first time a centrally conducted public exam has been scrapped following the introduction of a new anti-paper leak law. The cancellation has sparked a major political and academic controversy, with calls for systemic reforms to prevent future breaches.
Former Secretary of Higher Education, R Subrahmanyam in an interview with CNBC-TV18, highlighted the need for systemic reform in competitive examinations. He criticised the reliance on traditional pen-and-paper methods and advocated for a transition to a secure, fraud-proof online system.
“I think the government has to really look at the system. The current system of pen and paper is a thing of the past. Across the world, everybody has switched over to a full-proof, fraud-proof online system. And I think we should not look back. We are talking about digital India, and we are pioneers in it. We have got great software which is completely tamper-proof.
I think we should just adopt that and not let any scope for miscreants get into the system because all the time people are trying to tamper with the system. So our system should be one step ahead and it is possible. The solution lies in reforming the system. Of course, punishment should happen, but more importantly, the system should be such that it should not allow any offence to be committed,” Subrahmanyam emphasised.
The National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for conducting the UGC-NET, is already under scrutiny for alleged irregularities in the NEET exam, the single-window entrance test for MBBS programs in India.
Subrahmanyam pointed out that the Union Cabinet had approved the NTA to conduct only online examinations due to the high risks associated with pen-and-paper tests. However, he criticised the Ministry of Health for refusing to switch NEET to an online format, thus perpetuating the risk of leaks in this critical examination.
“The UGC-NET has always been an online examination, but this year, the decision to revert to a pen-and-paper format was taken despite knowing the risks involved,” Subrahmanyam remarked. This shift, he argued, made the test vulnerable to breaches, ultimately leading to its cancellation.
The cancellation of the UGC-NET exam has ignited a political firestorm. A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe has been ordered to investigate the matter. Meanwhile, several student wings of political parties have staged protests outside the Education Ministry in Delhi, demanding accountability and swift action to ensure such issues do not recur.
(Edited by : Jomy Jos Pullokaran)
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