Ministry of Education on cancellation of UGC-NET: ‘Prima facie, we found that the exam may have been compromised’

At a press conference following the cancellation of the UGC-NET exam on June 20, the Ministry of Education said the exam was canceled because the National Testing Agency found errors in technical nature during the examination. The exam took place just a day before it was canceled on June 19.

The ministry also said: “Prima facie, we found that the exam may have been compromised, therefore it was canceled. »

Revealing that it did not receive any external complaints regarding the exam, the Education Ministry spokesperson said the NTA took the decision on its own initiative after spotting the discrepancies.

Notably, the Union education ministry, amid growing criticism, handed over the matter to the CBI for further investigation. The decision to cancel the exam sparked controversy and raised concerns over the government’s handling of the crucial national exams.

The ministry also said: “We are taking swift action so that no candidate’s future is compromised.”

The cancellation drew a sharp backlash from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other opposition leaders, who criticized the government for alleged irregularities and mismanagement of the national exams.

Mallikarjun Kharge, in a scathing attack on the Centre, raised questions over the integrity of the NEET medical entrance exam and challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resolve the issues surrounding it. Terming the cancellation of the UGC-NET exam as a victory for students, Kharge accused the Modi government of playing with the future of the youth through its actions.

The Congress party called the government a “paper leak government” and demanded accountability from the education minister in light of the recent developments.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, echoing similar sentiments, called for a thorough investigation and accountability over the cancellation of the UGC-NET exam.