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NEET Cancelled: The Fate of Students amidst Institutional Chaos

By DU Beat May 13, 2026

NTA cancels the earlier NEET examination amidst leak allegations, prompting sharp reactions from student bodies over growing institutional mismanagement and uncertainty.

On May 12th, the National Testing Agency announced that the NEET UG Examination, which took place on 3rd May 2026 and is a crucial exam for medical aspirants across the country, stands cancelled. This decision was made after an alleged leak of questions was detected, despite there being heightened security measures across test centres in the country, according to the NTA.

This year, more than 22 lakh students appeared for the NEET examination which came under scrutiny after claims surfaced that a “guess paper” circulated before the test closely matched several actual questions, particularly in certain areas of Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, according to a report by NDTV. The NTA then acknowledged complaints regarding possible malpractice, and the matter was soon referred to investigative authorities. The controversy intensified after the Rajasthan Police Special Operations Group reportedly found significant similarities between the circulated material and the examination paper, prompting nationwide concern over the credibility of the medical entrance test. Growing public outrage and mounting pressure eventually led the NTA, on May 12th, to cancel NEET UG 2026 and announce a fresh examination. Multiple detentions have already been made regarding the matter in Rajasthan, with over 45 people under scrutiny.

This situation not only raises questions about the competence of the NTA itself, but also puts the futures of students on the line. The examination had integrated GPS-tracked movement of question papers, biometric verification, AI-assisted CCTV monitoring and deployment of 5G jammers in test centres across the country this year. In conversation with DU Beat, a medical aspirant who attempted the examination for the first time earlier this month, said,

“I feel that this is likely NTA’s greatest screw-up because this is not the first time this has happened, 2024 being the biggest example. It’s just so disappointing to see this happening despite the NTA having three years to learn from their mistakes. Giving a retest like this is basically just toying with people’s futures and their lives. Many might say that this is an opportunity to improve ranks or marks, but it’s not just about that second chance; this is about those who have given years to this three-hour exam just for it to get cancelled because of a leak. It really questions the NTA’s integrity and the security of conducting these examinations.”

For many students, the cancellation implies restarting preparation with added emotional distress and travel costs for those aspirants living in rural areas. For those who have taken several drop years in hopes of clearing the examination, this may just lead to another year wasted with no fault of their own.

Soon after the cancellation was announced, members of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) took to the streets outside the Education Ministry in Delhi under the leadership of NSUI National President Vinod Jakhar. They demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Patel, who refused to take any questions from the media, according to many news channels, and also to ban the “corrupt NTA”. ABVP and AISA also released official statements on their social media regarding the matter. SFI activists were even “brutally detained” during the peaceful procession outside the Shastri Bhawan, which included the SFI All India President Adarsh M Saji, All India Joint Secretary Aishe Ghosh and Delhi State President Sooraj Elamon. They wrote, “NTA has proven its inefficiency over the years and the NDA government hasn’t moved a finger. It proves the nexus between the coaching mafia and the government agencies.”

Evidently, the student body at large is outraged over this controversy. However, the NTA has given some official instructions regarding the re-examination. They have mentioned that the new examination dates and reissued admit cards will be communicated through official channels in the coming days, the matter having been referred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Also, no fresh registration or fee will be required; the data from the earlier examination will be carried forward to the re-conducted one. This crisis also comes at a time when educational institutional failure is already at large, considering the uncertainty surrounding semester examination timetables within the Delhi University administration itself.

Earlier today, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) also moved to the Supreme Court regarding the matter, seeking to replace the NTA with a “more robust, technologically advanced and autonomous body.” The plea demands the formation of a “High-Powered Monitoring Committee” to conduct the NEET UG re-examination of this year until the new body is formed, as well as a shift to Computer Based Test (CBT) mode and the release of results of the cancelled examination to detect anomalies. This committee is proposed to be chaired by a retired Supreme Court judge, a cybersecurity expert and a forensic scientist.

Image source: @sfidelhi on Instagram

Manya Marwah

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Admission Season

CUET UG 2026 to Begin in May, Announces NTA

By DU Beat April 9, 2026

The NTA has announced that the CUET UG examination will commence in May. Additionally, provisions have been made for students facing mismatches in identity documents.

The Common University Entrance Test for Undergraduate programmes (CUET UG) 2026 exam is scheduled to be conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) from 11 May 2026 to 31 May 2026. Following this exam, admissions to undergraduate programmes at Delhi University are also expected to begin shortly after. CUET–UG 2026 application forms were available between 3 January and 4 February, with a correction window open from 23 February to 26 February.

As in the past four years, the University will carry out the admission process through its Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS) portal, which operates in multiple phases, the first one being student registration. Students’ admission largely depends on CUET results. Once the results are declared, students can apply for courses and colleges they prefer and are eligible for, based on subject mapping.

The Dean of Admissions, Haneet Gandhi, stated that the CSAS portal is likely to open around the third week of May, which is also when the CUET examination will take place. While the final details are still being worked out, the University aims to complete admissions promptly this time so that classes can begin at the earliest. Efforts will also be made to shorten the allocation periods, even if it requires adjusting each round by a day or two. Students have also been advised to choose those CUET subjects that they have studied in Class 12, as at least 50 per cent similarity is required for subject mapping, which is an essential part of the admission process.

In recent years, faculty members have raised concerns about delays in the admission process, following DU’s adoption of the CUET-based admission system and its impact on the academic calendar. To address this, the University is already working to make the CSAS portal more user-friendly by adding prompts and guidance to help students avoid mistakes during the application process.

In its latest notice dated 7 April, the NTA has also introduced a special verification window from 7 April to 10 April 2026, for candidates facing issues such as mismatched photographs or identity documents. Candidates facing such discrepancies are required to verify their identity by submitting a signed and attested certificate along with a recent photograph, having it attested by their school/college principal or a Gazetted Officer, and uploading it to the NTA website by 10 April.

The CUET, in its current form, was introduced in March 2022 for the academic year of 2022-23. Implemented by the NTA, it aimed to create a level playing field for admissions across all central universities (not just Delhi University), reducing the high cut-offs and over-reliance on board examination marks. It was a key reform under the NEP 2020, which also allowed students to appear for a single common entrance exam, instead of multiple university-specific exams. CUET is one of India’s largest entrance examinations, with more than 14 lakh applicants this year.

Image Source: Devesh for DU Beat

Nasheta Zaidi

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DUB News

Over 30 teachers detained in Delhi during anti-NEP protest

By DU Beat September 8, 2024

Approximately 30 teachers were detained by police in Central Delhi’s Mandi House area while they were participating in a unity march to protest against NEP 2020, paper leaks, and other issues.

On 5th September 2024, also celebrated as Teachers’ Day, over 30 teachers from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi University, and others were detained from Mandi House for protesting against the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the National Testing Agency (NTA), paper leaks, and the undermining of reservations in educational institutions. The Federation of Central University Teachers’ Associations (FEDCUTA), All India Federation of University & College Teachers’ Organisations (AIFUCTO), and Joint Forum for Movement on Education (JFME) organized a joint march from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar to address the increasing government interference in the autonomy of educational institutions. However, before the teachers could reach Jantar Mantar, FEDCUTA President Moushumi Basu and former President Nandita Narain, among others, were forcibly detained.

As per The Federal reports, a senior police officer stated that the teachers were arrested as they attempted to move towards the Embassy area.

The teachers were permitted to protest, but when they tried heading towards the Embassy area, the police had to detain them. The protestors at Jantar Mantar were allowed to continue their protest,” he said.

However, Moushumi Basu stated that although the police promised to drop them at Jantar Mantar, they dropped them to Kapashera Police Station near the Gurugram border, far from the protest location. The teachers’ association also issued a statement condemning the detentions and calling it a clear violation of democratic rights.

On the day that the nation observes as Teachers’ Day, senior teachers and students were forcibly detained by the police in order to prevent the March. The action of the Delhi Police today…is a shocking demonstration of the continuing assault on Indian democracy and the utter contempt with which the state views education, learning and the teaching community”, the statement read.

As per the reports, FEDCUTA President and JFME Coordinator, Moushumi Basu spoke about the incident,

The police action today only serves to vindicate the very sentiments behind this teacher-student Unity March. This protest is about the unity of those engaged in the teaching-learning process who are standing up against the destruction of the nation’s future through the erosion of public education. NEP 2020 threatens high academic standards and makes education inaccessible to all, particularly marginalized groups.”

She further added and said, “By detaining teachers and students on a day meant to celebrate educators, the government has shown its utter contempt for the teaching community. The Delhi Police has been used to silence our voices, but our fight continues.”

The Democratic Teachers’ Initiative (DTI), in a statement issued following the detentions also condemned the government’s actions.

Look at how teachers are being humiliated on Teachers’ Day! Today’s protest, held on FEDCUTA-AIFUCTO-JFME’s call, was meant to demonstrate our collective resistance to NEP 2020. Yet, instead of listening to teachers and students, the government has chosen to suppress us by force. This is how we are celebrating Teachers’ Day—by being detained for fighting for the future of education!”

Despite being detained, the senior leaders have asked for continued demonstrations. Professor Nandita Narain, former FEDCUTA president, said,

This is a critical moment for education in India. Our public education system is under attack, and teachers, students, and citizens must stand together to protect it. We will not be silenced.”

Meanwhile, student groups from different universities, including Delhi University and Ambedkar University, continued the protest at Jantar Mantar. The protestors also raised slogans, placards, and posters to highlight the issues of NEP and paper leaks, among others. The demonstration reflected the increasing dissatisfaction within the academic community over educational policies and other systematic issues. The detainment of the teachers highlighted the growing tension between the teachers and the government over the crisis in the education sector.

Featured Image Credits: The Hindu

Reeba Khan

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DU Admissions

DU to Conduct PhD Admissions via CUET from Academic Year 2023-24

By Samra Iqbal June 12, 2023

The Executive Council of the University of Delhi passed a resolution on 9th June, 2023 to conduct PhD admissions into the university via CUET from the upcoming academic year, 2023-24. Alongside this major decision, several other resolutions were adopted in the meeting, including those pertaining to the initiation of the five-year LLB programme.

This is the first time the university will be inducting students into its PhD programmes through a common test instead of conducting written tests and interviews.

“PhD admission will be done on the basis of CUET (PhD)-2023 based on the recommendation of the Standing Committee of the Academic Council, after deliberations on various matters related to admission and attendance of Undergraduate, Postgraduate and PhD programmes for the academic session 2023-24, the same were also accepted by the Executive Council (EC),” read the university statement.

The University had started conducting undergraduate and postgraduate admission via CUET-UG and CUET-PG since last year. The PhD entrance test will be through the national-based CUET-PhD (2023), conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA). However, teaching and non-teaching candidates serving in the university can directly appear for interviews. The University also added that the teaching and non-teaching staff must be permitted to attend classes and take examinations without affecting the duties assigned during office hours. Such rules for PhD will be applicable from the academic session 2023-24.

Apart from this, several other resolutions were passed at the Executive Council meeting. The eligibility condition and seat matrix recommendations of the Medical Science Course Admissions Committee (MCAC) for admission to undergraduate MBBS/BDS courses for the admission session 2023-24 were also approved. It was also decided that MSc admission to the Respiratory Therapy programme will also be under CUET-PG 2023.

The resolution to set up the Centre for Independence and Partition Studies, passed in the 1014th Academic Council meeting of the university was also approved on Friday. The centre will focus on researching about unsung heroes and freedom movements that have not found a place in mainstream history textbooks along with the tragedies and horrors of the partition.

The Council has also given approval for the formation of Tribal Studies Centre that shall be a multi-disciplinary centre focusing on various tribes of India. Additionally, establishment of Hindu Studies Centre was also passed by the EC. A Master of Arts Programme in Hindu Studies will be started under this Centre. The Council also approved to run the Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP) from the academic session 2023-24 which will be a four-year long course.

DU’s Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Mahila College, Mata Sundari Mahavidyalaya and Jesus and Mary College have been granted approval for ITEP by National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) from the session 2023-24. The education department of DU and eight colleges running B El Ed course will
apply for ITEP course for the academic year 2024-2025.

With major changes occurring in the admission process as well as university programmes, the students can only hope for a smooth and unhampered experience.

Featured Image Credits: Hindustan Times

Priyanka Mukherjee
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Admissions

NTA Postpones Delhi University Entrance Test Indefinitely

By DU Beat April 8, 2020

In the list of the things cancelled due to the novel Coronavirus, joining the merit-based form for Delhi University, up next is the Delhi University Entrance Test (DUET 2020).

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has postponed the registrations for DUET 2020 at a time when some of the to-be first-year students are still left with board exams amidst the Coronavirus nationwide lock down. The NTA has been known to conduct various national level entrance exams like Joint Entrance Examinations (Mains), Jawaharlal Nehru University Entrance Exam, etc. DUET used to be conducted internally by the varsity, until last year when the onus was given to NTA.

NTA brought along itself a lot of relief for the aspirants in terms of facilities and ease of conduct of the exams. Some of the popular courses for which this exam is conducted are B.A(Hons.) Humanities and Social Sciences, B.A (Hons) Multimedia and Mass Communication, B.Tech, M.Phil and Ph.D courses. The varsity had promised more student-friendly measures such as a single form admission process; details of which would be more clear once the lock down is lifted and the schedule for the year 2020-21 is announced.

This year, the registration process was supposed to begin from 2nd April 2020 and the exams were to be conducted from 2nd to 9th June 2020. Since the varsity is closed till 14 April as of now, a Press Release on 3rd April 2020 announced the registration to be “postponed till further notice” as well.

*Image Credits: Official website, Delhi University*

Jahnvi Mishra, an aspiring DU student, said “I am stressed about the admission season but I am much more worried about the last board exam I have left”

With everything being postponed right now, whether it be the board exams or the entrance exam schedules all across the globe, it would be interesting to note the steps that the varsity takes in the coming few months to cause minimal loss to the current students as well as the to-be first year students in the university.

Feature Image Credits: Saubhagya Saxena for DU Beat

Akshat Arora

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