UGC NET Scrapped After Concerns Emerge Around Exam's Integrity

New Delhi: The Union education ministry said it decided today (June 19) to cancel the UGC NET exam after receiving inputs from cybercrime officials indicating, at first look, that the exam's integrity “may have been compromised”.

The NET, which stands for National Eligibility Test and is held to select people for professorships and research fellowships, was conducted yesterday by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in pen-and-paper format, a departure from the computer-based format that was in effect since 2018.

A fresh exam will be conducted and information on this “will be shared separately”, the ministry said.

It added that the CBI will investigate the possible breach in the exam's integrity.

On the NEET-UG exam, the ministry said it had asked for a detailed report from the economic offences wing of the Bihar police, which is investigating allegations of a paper leak taking place in the state.

“Government will take further action on receipt of this report,” the ministry said, adding that those found to “be involved in this matter will face strictest action”.

Almost 24 lakh aspirants wrote the highly competitive NEET-UG on May 5 for admission into medical colleges, but it has been marred by accusations of paper leaks and by irregularities in the conduct of the test.

A senior official in Bihar's economic offences unit has said its investigation so far had been “very much suggestive of a paper leak” and according to the Times of India, an officer in the unit claimed that four candidates “confessed” to receiving the exam's question paper in advance.

Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan said last week that there was “no scope for any malpractice or irregularities” in the conduct of the exam but has since said that “some irregularities … have come to light from some specific locations”.

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