NEW DELHI: Before the outrage and political attack over the alleged paper leak and other irregularities in the Neet-UG 2024 and UGC-NET exams could die down, the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Friday postponed the CSIR-UGC NET entrance test, citing “unavoidable circumstances as well as logistic issues”. The only silver lining for the NTA exam process amid back-to-back setbacks was that the Supreme Court refused to defer the NEET-UG counselling slated to commence on July 6, saying it is not an “open and shut” exercise.
In a late-evening development, the NTA postponed the CSIR-UGC-NET, scheduled between June 25 and 27, till further notice. The agency said the revised exam dates will be announced soon on its official website.
Both the CSIR and the UGC provide research fellowships for training in methods of research under the expert guidance of faculty members and scientists working in university departments, national laboratories and institutions in various fields of Science.
Under fire over the lapses in the conduct of NEET and UGC-NET, the NTA, however, is gearing up to conduct on Sunday a retest for the medical entrance exam for 1,563 candidates who were earlier awarded grace marks to make up for the loss of time at six centres after the apex court turned down pleas against retest.
Facing widespread protests, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan reportedly skipped Delhi University’s Yoga Day event, where students held a protest carrying black flags and demanding his resignation and scrapping of NTA.
According to university officials, Mr Pradhan, who was the chief guest for the Yoga Day event, scheduled to begin at 6 am could not attend it due to “some urgent work”. The AISA, however, claimed that the minister did not attend the event at the North Campus because of the protests.
A statement issued by the association read: “In response to the sheer audacity of Mr Pradhan to even think of coming to DU while he and his NTA have jeopardised the future of students, AISA activists, along with students of Delhi University, raised black flags and protested against his presence in the university.”
In solidarity with the agitating students, the Congress also held protests across the country. The party said it will intensify protests till irregularities and corruption in the competitive exams were totally wiped out.
Launching a scathing attack on the Centre, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the issue has become a national problem under the BJP rule, which has “ruined the future” of crores of youth in the country.
In the Supreme Court, a vacation bench of Justices Vikram Nath and S.V.N. Bhatti said there is a possibility that even the whole exam can be set aside and should therefore await the final outcome. While hearing a clutch of petitions, Justice Nath said, “Nothing will happen now. Everything can be set aside. When there is a chance of setting aside the May 5 main examination, where is this question of (re-test for) 1,563 candidates?”
The counsel for the petitioners sought a stay on the re-test, contending that the NTA had withheld material information from the court as 753 out of 1,563 candidates had already failed. “They (candidates appearing for the re-test) are thereby getting a second shot at the examinations,” the counsel said., adding that it was unjust and unreasonable given that there are qualified candidates who would like to reappear. The candidates reappearing will undergo the stress of taking the examination, the lawyer contended.
Questioning the submission, Justice Nath said, “You worried about them or are you worried about the other candidates or not being allowed to give the examination?”
“Your argument is that some candidates who have failed are being allowed to take the re-test. And now you are saying that those who are going to appear in the second examination are under stress. There are completely contradictory arguments you are making,” Justice Nath said.
The top court issued notices to the NTA, the Centre and others on a petition seeking cancellation of the exam over alleged irregularities in holding it on May 5 and posted the matter for hearing on July 8 along with other pending pleas alleging irregularities in the conduct of the medical entrance.
The counsel appearing for the petitioners urged the bench that the counselling process may be paused for two days as the top court is scheduled to hear all these pleas on July 8.
“I am not seeking any stay on counselling. I am only praying that the counselling that is scheduled to be held on July 6 may be paused for two days only. The reason being that the main matter is listed on July 8,” the lawyer argued.
To this, the bench said: “We have been hearing the same statement. Don’t think otherwise for interrupting you. Counselling does not mean open and shut. It is a process. That process commences on July 6.”
