The government canceled the exam that is important for getting teaching jobs and PhD admissions in Indian universities. They said the exam’s fairness was in doubt.
Abishek Mishra, a 21-year-old second-year postgraduate student from Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, always dreamed of becoming a teacher. To pursue this goal, he took the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) on Tuesday. This exam is crucial for finding teaching jobs and gaining admission to PhD programs in Indian universities.
However, the Ministry of Education (MoE) announced late Wednesday night that the exam had been canceled. This sudden decision has brought uncertainty to aspirants like Abishek, leaving them wondering: what happens next?
“When I came to Delhi, I heard stories that the computer-based UGC-NET exam had more chances of cheating. But this time, it was a pen and paper test by the NTA (National Testing Agency), which made me hopeful that it would be fair. Unfortunately, that hope was misplaced,” Abhishek shared with The Indian Express.
Currently a PhD student at Delhi University, Abhishek is aiming to get a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) based on his NET results. Without it, completing his course would be challenging.
In Thiruvananthapuram, 24-year-old Sooraj Elamon is facing a similar problem. Like Abhishek, his future depends on the NET exam and JRF.
“I spent the last two months studying hard for this exam, and now suddenly it’s been canceled,” said Sooraj, who is currently a PhD student at Jamia Millia Islamia. “There’s a lot of confusion about what will happen next. The student community is feeling very anxious right now.”
“No Jobs, and Exams Cancelled” :
The Indian Express talked to students all over India – from big cities like Delhi and Mumbai to places in the Northeast and South. They found that students everywhere were worried about what would happen next.
In Karimganj, Assam, Shahid Ahmed, 24, who teaches at a local school, was particularly upset. He had a hard time reaching his exam center in Guwahati, which was 300 kilometers away. This was his second attempt at the test, and he had spent Rs 3,500 just on travel expenses.
The Indian Express interviewed students nationwide, from big cities like Delhi and Mumbai to places in the Northeast and South. They discovered that worries about the future were widespread.
In Karimganj, Assam, Shahid Ahmed, 24, a teacher at a local school, was particularly upset. He faced difficulties reaching his exam center in Guwahati, which was 300 kilometers away. This was his second attempt at the test, and he had spent Rs 3,500 just on travel expenses.
“I had booked a bus to go to the city on the 16th, but landslides delayed it. I couldn’t wait, so I booked a train and reached Guwahati on June 17 morning to take the exam. I was well-prepared and the exam went smoothly. Then, unexpectedly, it was cancelled,” he said. “They’re messing with people’s lives.”
In Kolkata, Ananya Mukherjee, 24, expressed how the uncertainty about the exams has taken a toll on her mental well-being. Ananya, originally from Chittaranjan in West Burdwan district, holds a master’s degree in linguistics from a university in Kolkata and was aiming to pursue a PhD.
“I’m at a loss now. This news is shocking. It was my second attempt at the exam. I don’t know if we’ll get another chance to appear,” she said.
Mouli Saha, who also dreams of pursuing a PhD in history, faces a similarly uncertain future. Like Ananya, Mouli, from Nowda in Murshidabad, holds a master’s degree in history from Rabindra Bharati University (RBU) in Kolkata, and she mentioned that the situation has had a negative impact on her mental health.
“Since last night, I’ve been feeling really down. I can’t focus on anything. NTA has lost my trust completely. It’s tough out there with no job opportunities, and now exams are being canceled,” she said.
In Pune, another hopeful, Divya Kerkar, isn’t surprised by the news but thinks the government should have raised their concerns about the exams sooner.
“After the NEET exam issue, I had a feeling there might be problems with the NET exam too, and now it’s been canceled… After preparing so hard for a competitive exam, the government suddenly says it doesn’t count anymore,” Divya said, mentioning she’ll take the test again whenever it’s rescheduled.
In Chandel Village, North Goa’s Pernem, the government’s decision has angered Chaitanya Gawas. Like many other hopefuls, Gawas, who finished his MA in April, had to travel 80 kilometers to take the test. Now, he wants a thorough investigation into the accusations of a leaked exam paper.
“It’s disgraceful that a big organization like this keeps making the same mistakes,” he said. “There’s no news on when they’ll arrange the exam again. The fees were expensive; will we have to pay again if we retake it? When will they hold the next exam? NTA needs to give us clear answers quickly.”