The Education Ministry cancels UGC-NET 2024 after NEET Mishap: CBI Probe Order

The University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) is a prominent examination in India. It is designed to determine eligibility for college and university-level knowledge and for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) to Indian citizens.

It ensure minimum standards for the entrants in teaching professions and research. Led by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the UGC, the test covers various subjects across the humanities, social sciences, and environmental sciences, among others.

UGC NET 2024 was conducted on 18 June 2024 across 1,205 exam centres in 317 cities nationwide. However, the exam has been canceled because of controversies about the NEET examinations. Because of this, the results are now being submitted to the Supreme Court for investigation involving CBI and other branches.

On 19 June 2024, the decision on the citizens of India was dropped, making it hard for students who have been religiously prepping for the forthcoming examination. Given that, let us discuss all the possible consequences of this decision on the Indian youth.

What is UGC?

The University Grants Commission (UGC) is a statutory body in India established by the Government of India in accordance with the University Grants Commission Act 1956. It functions under the Ministry of Education and coordinates, determines, and maintains higher education standards.

It recognizes universities in India and disburses funds to such recognized universities and colleges. Additionally, UGC is responsible for setting and maintaining high educational standards across the country, overseeing university curricula, and ensuring the quality of education provided by higher education institutions.

What is NTA?

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is an Indian government agency established in November 2017 to conduct entrance examinations for higher educational institutions. Its creation aimed to relieve the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and other bodies from the responsibilities of conducting national-level entrance examinations, allowing them to focus more on improving the quality of higher education in India.

The NTA is responsible for organizing exams such as JEE (Main), NEET-UG, UGC-NET, CMAT, and GPAT, among others. It operates under the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education (MoE), and is designed to ensure standardized, efficient, and transparent testing processes. The agency also utilizes technology to make exams more secure and to reduce the chances of error in their administration.

All About NEET UG 2024

NEET UG 2024 was conducted on May 5, 2024. This examination is crucial for students seeking admission to undergraduate (UG) medical and dental courses across India. The National Testing Agency (NTA) organized NEET 2024, which is responsible for managing various national-level entrance exams.

For this year, registration opened on February 9, 2024, and closed on March 16, 2024. The exam was available in a pen-and-paper format across various centers in India and a few international locations. This year, A significant change was extending the exam duration to 200 minutes, allowing candidates more time to tackle the questions.

The NEET syllabus covered three major subjects: Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Post-exam, several events were scheduled, including the release of the admit card, the conduct of the exam, and the subsequent release of the answer key, allowing candidates to challenge any discrepancies.

Results were declared on June 4, 2024, but controversy regarding 67 toppers securing NEET Air (1) got the NTA checked by the Supreme Court and handed the case over to CBI.

The Controversy of NEET 2024 Results

The NEET UG 2024 results have sparked significant controversy and debate among students, educators, and the public due to several reported irregularities and issues. The controversy primarily revolves around the unusually high number of top scorers, discrepancies in the merit list, and the likelihood of UGC NET.

One of the major points of argument is that an unusual number of candidates, approximately 67, scored the all-India rank (AIR) 1, with several coming from the same examination center. This anomaly raised suspicions and led to widespread demands for a re-examination.

Additionally, there were concerns about the integrity of the examination process, including allegations of paper leaks and improper conduct at various centers. These issues culminated in the cancellation of results for 1,563 candidates who were awarded grace marks due to a loss of exam time, with a retest scheduled for these students.

NTA’s Response to the Allegations

UGC NET is a national-level test conducted by NTA twice a year, The National Testing Agency (NTA) has responded to NEET allegations by asserting that the high number of top scores was a natural outcome of the increased number of test takers this year, from approximately 20.4 million in 2023 to over 23.3 million in 2024.

Despite this explanation, the rapid announcement of results just 10 days after the exam—coinciding with the Lok Sabha election results—further fueled suspicions and led to claims that this timing was intended to divert attention from the controversies surrounding the exam.

In response to the numerous issues raised, the Supreme Court intervened, refusing to continue the NEET counseling process but acknowledging the need for answers regarding the sanctity of the NEET examination process. Meanwhile, investigations continue into allegations of cheating and impersonation during the exam, with some arrests already made related to these issues.

The unfolding controversy highlights the critical need for transparency and fairness in the administration of such crucial national examinations, which determine the future of millions of aspiring medical professionals. The situation remains fluid, with ongoing legal challenges and calls for more stringent measures to ensure the integrity of future examinations.

Education Ministry’s Decision to Cancel UGC NET

In a significant decision, the Education Ministry has announced the cancellation of the UGC NET 2024 examinations. This decision comes in the wake of the controversies that plagued the NEET 2024 results, highlighting concerns over the integrity of national examination processes. The ministry’s proactive approach aims to ensure fairness and maintain the credibility of such critical academic assessments.

According to reports, the Ministry emphasized the need for a transparent and foolproof system that guarantees every candidate is evaluated under equitable conditions. The move has sparked discussions across educational circles about the implications for future examinations and the measures needed to prevent similar issues.

This cancellation is part of a broader government initiative to review and enhance examination and evaluation procedures and uphold the highest standards of educational integrity.

UGC NET Cancellation Impact on Students

About 11 lakh students need to retake the UGC-NET exam after the Union Education Ministry chose to cancel it due to concerns about its fairness. The new dates for the exam will be shared soon.

The UGC NET 2024 was initially scheduled for June. The new date for the exam was set for June 18, 2024. However, just the day after, on 19 June 2024, the examination was canceled and rescheduled to address various administrative needs. The exam will held in two shifts and will cover subjects for academia or research.

This decision was made after receiving advice from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit, which falls under “Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre” under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

What next

The Ministry said “To ensure the highest level of transparency and sanctity of the examination process, it has been decided that the UGC-NET June 2024 examination be cancelled. A fresh examination shall be conducted, for which information shall be shared separately. Simultaneously, the matter is being handed over to the CBI for a thorough investigation.”

Thus, students will now have to wait for a fresh examination process and wait till the next announcement has been made. Meanwhile, it is advised to stay current with the news and prepare wisely and hard for the upcoming examinations.