CSIR-UGC-NET Exam Postponed Amid Paper Leak Controversy

New Delhi: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has postponed the Joint CSIR-UGC NET examination, originally scheduled to be held between 25 June to 27 June, 2024, due to “unavoidable circumstances and logistic issues”. The NTA will announce the revised exam schedule on its official website soon.

The Joint CSIR-UGC NET is an essential exam for candidates aspiring for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), Lectureship (LS), and Assistant Professor roles in Indian universities and colleges, contingent upon meeting the University Grants Commission (UGC) eligibility criteria.

The Ministry of Education cancelled Wednesday’s UGC-NET exam, just a day after it occurred, due to concerns about the exam’s integrity being compromised.

According to the Ministry’s release, on June 19, the University Grants Commission (UGC) received alarming information from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, indicating potential integrity issues with the exam.

This cancellation has sparked widespread discontent among students, who allege various irregularities in the NTA’s exam conduct.

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced the formation of a high-level committee to investigate the matter. He explained that upon receiving information about leaked questions on the darknet, a comparison with the original paper was conducted, leading to the decision to cancel the exam and initiate a CBI investigation.