Centre Cancels UGC-NET Amid NEET Row

Amid the controversy surrounding the NEET exam, the Ministry of Education has cancelled the UGC-NET June 2024 exam. The Ministry said that the decision to cancel the exam just a day after it took place was based on input from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs. These inputs prima facie indicate that the "integrity of the aforesaid examination may have been compromised."

"Fresh Examination shall be conducted, for which information shall be shared separately. Matter being handed over to CBI for thorough investigation in the matter," added the ministry in its X handle on June 19. This year's NET exam was conducted in OMR (pen and paper) mode on June 18 in two shifts at various cities across the country. The exam, conducted twice every year, is to determine eligibility for the posts of 'Assistant Professor' and 'Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor' in Indian universities and colleges. According to a MoneyControl report, a total of 11,21,225 candidates registered for the NET June 2024 examination. 

Meanwhile, on the NEET exam, the education ministry said that the issue related to grace marks has already been fully addressed. Meanwhile, opposition leaders severely criticised the central government after the Ministry of Education cancelled the NET examination. "The NEET UG 2024 Examination faces very serious questions that even the Education Minister has been forced to acknowledge. The integrity of the National Testing Agency (NTA) is under severe doubt," wrote Congress leader Jairam Ramesh in a post on his X handle.