📷 Image Credits: The Times of India
At the forefront of the education sector in India, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has been making headlines with the recent controversies surrounding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) Undergraduate (UG) exams in 2024. The relentless pursuit of transparency and integrity in examinations has brought about significant changes in the upcoming exams.
In a recent announcement, the NTA declared new dates for the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) 2024 June session exam. The UGC NET June 2024 cycle exam, previously conducted in a pen and paper (offline) mode, will now be held as a computer-based test. The decision to switch to a computer-based format comes after the cancellation of the June 18 exam, affecting over 9 lakh candidates.
The UGC NET controversy, coupled with the NEET UG paper leak case, prompted the NTA to make sweeping changes to ensure the sanctity of the examination process. The NTA also sent show-cause notices to 17 candidates in Patna, threatening debarment based on the Bihar Police’s Economic Offences Unit’s report. The gravity of the situation led to the involvement of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), with arrests made in alleged paper leak cases.
In a bid to address the growing concerns surrounding examination reforms, the Education Ministry set up an expert committee headed by former ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan. The committee, comprising eminent personalities from various fields, aims to review the NTA’s functioning and propose recommendations for improving data security protocols and the examination process.
Additionally, the NTA clarified its handling of students’ answer sheets for the Central University Entrance Test (CUET UG) 2024, following viral videos of alleged boxes containing answer sheets outside the agency’s office. The controversy surrounding the CUET UG exam resulted in delays, with the agency announcing new dates for the exam and a change in format to a computer-based test.
As the NTA grapples with the aftermath of the NEET UG and UGC NET controversies, the focus remains on maintaining the credibility and fairness of the examination system. With stringent measures in place and ongoing investigations, the NTA strives to uphold the integrity of academic evaluations for the benefit of students nationwide.
