In the midst of escalating controversy surrounding the NEET exam, the Ministry of Education has cancelled the UGC-NET exam, conducted by the National Testing Agency, just a day after it was held. Over 9 lakh candidates appeared for this exam, which determines eligibility for Assistant Professor posts and junior research fellowships in universities and colleges.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra immediately criticized the government for its “laxity” and called for accountability. The Ministry of Education stated that the June UGC-NET exam was conducted on Tuesday in OMR (pen and paper) mode in two shifts nationwide.

The Ministry explained that on June 19, 2024, the University Grants Commission (UGC) received inputs from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit indicating a possible compromise of the exam’s integrity. To ensure transparency, the June 2024 exam was cancelled, and it will be rescheduled with a new date announced later.

Reports suggested a possible paper leak, though the Ministry has not confirmed this. The Central Bureau of Investigation has been tasked with probing the matter. UGC-NET exams are held twice a year, in June and December.

UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar had posted on X that the exam was successfully conducted for 11,21,225 candidates in two shifts across 1,205 centers in 317 cities. About 81% of registered candidates appeared for the exam.

NEET Row

Nearly 24 lakh students appeared for the NEET-UG 2024 on May 5. Despite results being announced early on June 4, allegations of a paper leak and grace marks to over 1,500 students led to protests and court cases, including in the Supreme Court. The Ministry stated that issues related to grace marks have been addressed, and a detailed report on alleged irregularities in Patna is awaited from the Economic Offences Unit of the Bihar Police. The government reiterated its commitment to maintaining the sanctity of examinations and taking strict action against any malpractice.