NEET, JEE, CUET aspirants protest over exam glitches, demand retest
What's the story
Students across streams have organized a collective protest against the National Testing Agency (NTA) in response to persistent technical issues in admission tests such as NEET, JEE, and CUET. Several students marched to Delhi's Jantar Mantar, while others reportedly expressed their support online using the hashtag #ChaoJantarMantar. Not just students, but also education campaigners, have joined the demonstration, seeking a retest or another attempt.
Context
Why does this story matter?
The NTA conducts three major national-level entrance exams: the Common University Entrance Test-UG (CUET-UG), the National Eligibility Cumulative Entrance Test-UG (NEET-UG), and the Joint Entrance Examination-Main (JEE Main) for admission into different colleges for students across various streams. Notably, CUET is the country's second-largest admission test after NEET-UG. It had almost 14.9 lakh registrations this year, while NEET-UG received around 18 lakh.
Reason
What are students demanding?
While NEET candidates urge another re-exam, citing irregularities in the exam and rigging of the NEET paper, JEE aspirants would like a third attempt for everyone, citing the same reasons. Those taking CUET 2022 have also requested a re-test, alleging last-minute center changes and other difficulties during testing. On social media, several students are posting photos and videos of the ongoing protests.
Twitter Post
Here's what one student wrote on Twitter
Media, teachers, all our supporters have come.. and some students have come and more are coming, we have to show our unity to the corrupt system.#NTAJawabDo#ChaloJantarMantar#JEEMainsThirdAttemptForAll#JEEAspirantsFutureMatters@EduMinOfIndia @dpradhanbjp pic.twitter.com/MSypdNxrfg
— Aryan Sıngh (@ARYAN_SINGH04) August 17, 2022
JEE
Why are JEE aspirants demanding re-attempt?
Engineering students are requesting a third shot at the JEE Main exam, claiming that various kinds of technical difficulties hampered the exam for some participants. A few exam centers reportedly experienced technical difficulties, and students said that numerous questions for JEE Mains weren't displayed properly on the screens. Students also reportedly alleged that exams were not held in the second shift at some locations.
NEET-CUET
Details regarding the development
While some medical aspirants want the NTA to re-test the NEET in order to improve their results, many CUET candidates reportedly missed their exams owing to last-minute center adjustments and technical issues. Several of these CUET aspirants' tests have already been rescheduled by the NTA. As a result, students are now requesting that the NTA undertake a retake of all three tests this year.
Twitter Post
Here's what AISU tweeted over the issue
If today you stay quiet for what happened in JEE(Mains) then remember it will be repeated for many more years to come.
— All India Student's Union ( AISU ) (@Official_AISU) August 17, 2022
Raise Your Voice Against Injustice.#JEEMainsThirdAttemptForAll #ChaloJantarMantar #NEETUGSecondAttempt #CUET pic.twitter.com/8Zw31cb5CQ
Information
Who is organizing the protest?
According to digital flyers circulating on social media, student activist Pawan Bhadana is organizing the symbolic protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar alongside the All India Students Union (AISU). Parents, educators, and students are all reportedly joining the protest in large numbers.
UGC
Other details; UGC plans to integrate NEET, JEE with CUET
NEET UG 2022 candidates also encountered challenges such as the incident of several female students in Kerala who were reportedly forced to remove their bras consisting of metal hooks before taking the exam, as well as the mix-up of English and Hindi papers at a Rajasthan center. Meanwhile, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has recently proposed combining the three exams—JEE, NEET, and CUET—into one.
Information
'One exam, multiple opportunities'
"The proposal can integrate all these entrance examinations so that our students aren't subjected to multiple entrance examinations based on the same knowledge base. Students should have one single entrance examination, but multiple opportunities to apply among the disciplines," stated UGC chairperson M Jagdish Kumar.