Following a paper leak, the UGC NET exam has been cancelled, prompting the National Testing Agency (NTA) to announce new dates for the examination. The UGC NET will now take place from August 21 to September 4, 2024, marking a shift from its traditional pen and paper format to Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. Alongside this change, the NTA has scheduled the Joint CSIR UGC exam in CBT mode from July 25 to July 27, 2024, and the NCET exam on July 10 in the same mode. The All India AYUSH Post Graduate Entrance Test (AIAPGET) 2024 will proceed as planned on July 6.The NTA has confirmed that the UGC NET exam will cover 83 subjects. The decision to reschedule comes after the June 18 UGC NET exam was cancelled due to a paper leak, leading to an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Over 1.121 million candidates had registered for the exam. The Ministry of Education intervened, cancelling the UGC NET exam amid controversies surrounding alleged irregularities in the NEET medical entrance exam.NTA UGC NET and CSIR NET new exam dates announced (now in CBT mode). pic.twitter.com/OhocsG6vQJ— Upsc Civil Services Exam (@UpscforAll) June 28, 2024The UGC NET exam, conducted biannually, serves as a gateway for Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor positions across universities and higher education institutions nationwide. Notably, the UGC NET score will now also be valid for PhD admissions.Previously, the NTA conducted the UGC NET exam in offline mode (OMR sheets) on a single day after a six-year hiatus from pen and paper mode. However, in response to the paper leak incident, the NTA has opted to revert to conducting the exam in multiple shifts using CBT mode.Amid growing concerns over irregularities in the NEET exam and the recent UGC NET paper leak, the NTA is under scrutiny for its transparency and operational practices. Calls have emerged to overhaul or disband the agency responsible for conducting major national-level exams such as NEET, JEE Main, UGC NET, and CUET. In response, the government has formed a high-level committee to recommend reforms for the NTA, seeking input from students and parents to enhance its effectiveness and credibility.
