The series of paper leaks that have created outrage among people and have raised the question of the integrity of the National Testing Agency (NTA) has taken a new turn. According to the recent developments in the UGC-NET paper that was leaked 48 hours before the examination was sold on some encrypted social media platforms for Rs 6 lakh, according to the Central Bureau of Investigation as reported by NDTV. However, the sources for the paper leak are unclear at the moment.Was Telegram used in paper leakNevertheless, information that has leaked on social media suggests that Telegram served as the main hub for the leak, housing multiple groups with the intention of maximizing revenue through adverts. However, the origin of the material on Telegram groups is still unknown, but sources speculate that it might have come from the Dark Web.According to the reports, the investigation agency will collaborate with the NTA, the exam conducting body responsible for holding competitive exams, to investigate further.It is worth noting that the recent development in the case has come after, the Education Ministry on Wednesday ordered the cancellation of the UGC-NET following inputs that the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has found malpractices in the exam.Following the cancellation of the NET exam and paper leak allegations in the NEET, the NTA has been facing serious criticism. Meanwhile, several political groups, including the Students Federation of India (SFI), All India Students Association (AISA), Democratic Students Front (DSF), Krantikari Yuva Sangathan (KYS), and the Congress-affiliated NSUI, have strongly condemned the NTAs decision and have been actively protesting against it.UGC NET exam was conducted by the agency on June 18 and was cancelled on June 19 after cyber cell alerted for malpractices. What is UGC-NET UGC NET stands for University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test. It is a national-level test conducted in India to determine the eligibility of candidates for Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) positions in Indian Universities and Colleges.The UGC NET is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) twice a year (in June and December). The exam is computer-based and consists of two papers:Paper I: This paper is a general aptitude test and covers topics like reasoning ability, comprehension, divergent thinking and general awareness.Paper II: This paper is a subject-specific test and covers the subject chosen by the candidate.Candidates who qualify for the UGC NET get eligible to apply for Assistant Professor Positions in Indian universities and colleges.They are also eligible for Junior Research Fellowships (JRF) which can be used to pursue research in their chosen field.
