India's National Testing Agency cancels UGC-NET after 'exam integrity compromised'

Amid the NEET fiasco, India's National Testing Agency on Wednesday (June 19) announced the cancellation of the UGC-NET exam just a day after it was conducted.

The Education Ministry released a statement saying that the University Grants Commission (UGC) on Wednesday (June 19) received certain inputs from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs on the Examination, and the inputs prima-facie indicated that the integrity of the examination may have been compromised.

The statement further said that the matter was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for thorough probe.

"To ensure the highest level of transparency and sanctity of the examination process, the Ministry of Education, Government of India has decided that the UGC-NET June 2024 Examination be cancelled," the statement said.

It said that the exam will be conducted afresh at a date that will be announced later.

A fresh examination shall be conducted, for which information shall be shared separately. Simultaneously, the matter is being handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for thorough investigation in the matter," it added.

The UGC-NET June 2024 exam was conducted on Tuesday (June 18) in OMR (pen and paper) mode in two shifts across different cities of the country.

NEET paper leak row: Education ministry seeks report from Bihar police's Economic Offences Unit

The education ministry also said that it had sought a report from the Bihar Police's Economic Offences Unit concerning the alleged discrepancies in the conduct of the NEET examination in Patna.

NEET, or National Eligibility Entrance Test, is taken by millions of students for admission into medical colleges. This year's NEET test was mired in irregularities that led to cases all the way up to the Supreme Court.

The education ministry further said that necessary action would be taken after receiving the report.

"Regarding certain irregularities alleged in the conduct of the examination in Patna, a detailed report has been sought from the Economic Offences Unit, Bihar Police. The government will take further action on receipt of this report," said the statement.

(With inputs from agencies)