Students ask UGC if NET examination will be held

Fearing cancellation of the biannual National Eligibility Test (NET) examination, the All India Students Association (AISA) demonstrated outside the University Grant Commission (UGC) office here on Monday and sought its clarification on the issue.

The students group moved into action on the basis of news in the media a couple of days back, which talked about the "inability" of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to conduct the NET examination.

The examination is conducted by the central board twice a year -- around July and December.

"Certain media outlets had reported that CBSE will not be conducting NET in July, as it is already overburdened with other examinations it conducts on behalf of UGC... We have demanded a clarification on this from them (UGC) within this week," AISA leader Neeraj told IANS.

He said that the suspension of the examination would "simply mean that they want to deny students higher education", and insisted that the test "must take place".

"After causing a massive seat-cut in JNU, they are now denying students higher education. Why do people go for MA... it's because they have interest in a certain area which they want to probe further, and to do that they need financial assistance," he said.

The officials from the UGC met the students and assured them that the issue would be taken up with the Human Resource Development Ministry.

The CBSE, however, has not officially announced whether it would be conducting the examination.

Previous NET examination was held in January this year by the CBSE. One is required to clear this exam to be able to apply for lectureship in colleges.

Top rankers in NET are also eligible for Junior Research Fellowship.

-- IANS

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