UGC-NET Retest for English, Sociology, Commerce After Question Paper Complaints
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has decided to re-conduct the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) for three subjects — English, Sociology, and Commerce — following complaints of errors in the question papers. A senior NTA official confirmed the decision to The Hindu, stating that a committee was formed to review the grievances raised by candidates.
The UGC-NET is a crucial examination conducted for 87 subjects, determining eligibility for assistant professor positions and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Indian universities and colleges. The re-exam, however, will apply only to the three subjects mentioned, as per the official's statement.
According to the NTA official, the decision came after the committee examined the complaints and identified discrepancies in the question papers for these specific subjects. The agency has not yet announced the revised dates for the re-examination, but candidates have been advised to monitor the official UGC-NET website and NTA portals for updates.
This development adds to the recent scrutiny of the NTA's conduct of high-stakes examinations. While the agency has consistently maintained that its processes are robust, this incident underscores the importance of rigorous quality checks. The UGC-NET is administered annually, and lakhs of candidates appear for it, making the integrity of the examination process a matter of significant public interest.
Candidates who appeared for the exams in question have expressed relief over the decision, but also concern about the delay in their results and subsequent academic plans. Educational experts have called for a swift and transparent resolution, emphasising that fairness to students must be the priority.
The NTA has stated that further details about the re-conducted exams, including the schedule and application process, will be shared separately. In the meantime, candidates are urged not to rely on unverified information and to await official notifications.
This is a developing story. More details will be added as they become available.