UGC NET 2025 exam reschedule requested by Tamil Nadu minister due to Pongal festival

UGC NET 2025 exam reschedule requested by Tamil Nadu minister due to Pongal festival

Tamil Nadu’s Higher Education Minister, Govi Chezhiaan, has called on the Central Government to postpone the UGC-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) scheduled for January 14–16, 2025, due to the Pongal festival.

In a letter addressed to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Chezhiaan pointed out that the National Testing Agency (NTA) has slated the UGC-NET December 2024 exams from January 3 to 16, 2025. However, the Pongal festival, a major cultural event in Tamil Nadu, coincides with the exam dates. Pongal falls on January 14, followed by Thiruvalluvar Day (Mattu Pongal) on January 15, and Farmers’ Day (Uzhavar Thirunal or Kanum Pongal) on January 16. The Tamil Nadu government has already announced holidays during this period to facilitate the celebrations.

Chezhiaan emphasized that Pongal is more than a festival; it represents Tamil Nadu’s rich cultural heritage spanning over 3,000 years. He expressed concern that conducting the exam during these holidays could disrupt students’ preparations, as the celebrations are integral to Tamil culture.

“I kindly request your intervention to reschedule the UGC-NET and other exams to ensure students and scholars from Tamil Nadu and other states celebrating harvest festivals can take the test without conflict,” the Minister wrote. He also highlighted the precedent set by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), which rescheduled its January 2025 foundation examination after a similar request by Tamil Nadu MP S. Venkatesan.

The UGC-NET is a crucial examination for candidates aspiring to qualify as assistant professors or junior research fellows (JRFs) in Indian universities and colleges. The December 2024 UGC-NET will be conducted online in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode, covering 85 subjects. The exam comprises two sections with multiple-choice questions, carrying a total of 300 marks.

This call for rescheduling underlines the need to balance academic commitments with cultural significance for a seamless experience for students across the country.