Education ministry says UGC NET exam seems 'compromised'; action against NEET UG offenders soon

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UGC NET June 2024 Exam Cancellation: A day after the Education Ministry ordered cancellation of UGC-NET exam that took place on Tuesday (June 18), a senior official from the ministry today providing the rationale behind the cancellation said that there were reports suggesting that the integrity of the exam may have been compromised.

Joint Secretary Govind Jaiswal explained that the exam, for which over 11 lakh students had registered, was cancelled on the basis of inputs received from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre.

"The matter has been handed over to the CBI for a thorough investigation. A fresh examination shall be conducted, for which information will be shared soon," he said.

The development comes at a time when the NTA is embroiled in a controversy over irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for medical and allied courses.

"I want to reiterate that the ministry is committed to ensuring the interests of students. We will not hesitate to take action against anyone found involved in any wrongdoing," Jaiswal stated.

Jaiswal also noted that, while no complaints had been received regarding the alleged UGC NET exam leak, the I4C took proactive measures. The specifics of these inputs cannot be disclosed at this time to avoid compromising the ongoing investigation.

"We cannot draw any conclusions until we thoroughly examine the evidence. Many individuals are involved in this matter. We are taking prompt action to ensure that no student's future is compromised," he added.

Additionally, Jaiswal highlighted that the National Testing Agency (NTA) is a relatively new organization responsible for conducting exams for over 1 crore candidates. The agency continually improves its processes based on feedback, managing a complex array of 83 subjects. Drawing from past experiences, the NTA transitioned to an OMR-based system. Despite receiving numerous inputs and allegations, the NTA ensures that its responses are proportional to the seriousness and credibility of the information received.

Yesterday, the Education Ministry decided to cancel the UGC-NET June 2024 Examination following inputs from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs. A tweet on the social media platform X stated, "Preliminary findings suggest that the integrity of the examination may have been compromised. A fresh examination will be conducted, with detailed information to be shared separately. The matter has been handed over to the CBI for a thorough investigation." The tweet emphasized the government's commitment to maintaining the sanctity of academic assessments and protecting the interests of students across the country.

Speaking over the NEET UG exam row, joint secretary said, "Grace marks has been addressed. As for alleged leak, Bihar EOU is investigating. We are relying on their input. They sought detailed input from NTA. Once we receive detailed input from Bihar police we will take action based on that."