Muscat: Over 9 lakh candidates appeared for the exam, which is crucial for Assistant Professor posts and junior research fellowships in universities and colleges. The decision has sparked immediate reactions, including criticism from Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

The Ministry of Education announced the cancellation of the UGC-NET June 2024 exam to ensure transparency and integrity after receiving alarming inputs from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The ministry stated, “To ensure the highest level of transparency and sanctity of the examination process,” the exam will be rescheduled, with the new date to be announced later. While there have been reports of a possible paper leak, this has not been confirmed by the ministry. The matter has now been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a thorough investigation.

Reacting to the cancellation, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticized the government for its “laxity” and demanded that accountability be fixed.

The UGC-NET exam, held in pen and paper mode across 317 cities, saw a turnout of 81% of the 11,21,225 registered candidates. UGC Chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar had earlier lauded the successful conduct of the exam in two shifts for 83 subjects.

Meanwhile, the NEET-UG 2024 exam, which saw participation from nearly 24 lakh students, has also been mired in controversy. Allegations of a question paper leak and the awarding of grace marks to over 1,500 students have triggered protests and legal battles. The Ministry of Education has sought a detailed report on the alleged irregularities from the Economic Offences Unit of Bihar Police and assured strict action against any individual or organization found guilty.