The Wire Staff 
New Delhi: The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Friday (June 28) has announced fresh dates for various examinations that were cancelled or postponed due to alleged irregularities. The agency has announced that the University Grants Commission–National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) exam will now be held from August 21 to September 4, Deccan Herald reported.
The UGC-NET, which was cancelled on June 18 — a day after the exam was conducted — due to reports of a paper leak, is a crucial test for determining eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship, appointment as assistant professors, and admission to PhD courses.
Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan had stated that the question paper was leaked on the darknet and circulated on Telegram, prompting the cancellation of the exam. The matter is currently under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
In a departure from the earlier pattern, the UGC-NET was conducted in offline mode this year and on a single day. However, the rescheduled exam will revert to the earlier pattern of Computer Based Test (CBT) spread across a fortnight, as per the report.
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Additionally, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) UGC-NET, which was postponed as a precautionary measure, will now be held from July 25 to 27, the report added. This exam is accepted for PhD admissions in various scientific disciplines.
The National Common Entrance Test (NCET), which was initially scheduled for June 12 but postponed at the last minute, has been rescheduled for July 10, DH reported. The test is held for select central and state universities or institutions, including IITs, NITs, RIEs, and government colleges.
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The recent allegations of irregularities in medical entrance examination NEET-UG and PhD entrance NET have put the NTA under scrutiny. The Centre has notified a panel to ensure transparent, smooth, and fair conduct of examinations through the NTA.
The cancellation of the UGC-NET exam and the postponement of other exams have caused uncertainty and anxiety among students who have prepared rigorously for these exams. The NTA’s announcement of new dates is expected to bring some relief to these students.