Organisations demand for reinstatement of NET Exam centre in Silchar, appeal for second chance to deprived candidates of Barak Valley

Barak Nagarik Sangsad and Barak Democratic Youth Front (BDYF) have expressed strong reaction as many candidates could not travel to Guwahati to appear for NET examination conducted by UGC after the removal of NET Exam centre from Silchar this time. On Thursday, in a press conference organised at Silchar Press Club, Chief Secretary of Barak Nagarik Sangsad Shankar Dey said, “NET Exam Centre was there in Silchar till last year. Many candidates from Silchar could not reach Guwahati this time due to landslides on National Highway after the Silchar centre of NET Exam was withdrawn. They are stranded on the road in a miserable condition. Apart from this, many candidates could not go to Guwahati due to non-availability of train tickets and exorbitant air fares.”

Barak Nagarik Sangsad Coordinator Professor Subrata Dev said that those who could not appear in the examination should be given another chance. At the same time, the NET exam centre should be reinstated in Silchar again.

BDYF Chief Convener Kalparnab Gupta said, “The deprived candidates of Barak Valley should be given a chance to appear for NET Exam again by reinstating the exam centre in Silchar on humanitarian grounds. It is not right to put the NET examinees in the face of suffering in this way.”

The UGC NET (University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test) is an important examination conducted in India to determine the eligibility of candidates for the role of Assistant Professor and for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). The exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the University Grants Commission (UGC). It is usually conducted twice a year, in June and December.

The UGC NET certificate is valid for lifetime for the role of Assistant Professor. However, the eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) is valid for three years, with certain conditions. Candidates who qualify for JRF can pursue research in their chosen subject and are also eligible for financial assistance/scholarship.

Notably our correspondent also got to know about two candidates from Silchar who had filled up forms for CUET PG MBA Exam conducted by NTA but their centre was allotted as Jorhat just three days before the exam making it very difficult for them to appear. CUET is an entrance exam for admission to Universities at the post graduate level.

Speaking to our reporter one of the candidates said, “I filled up my form for CUET PG MBA entrance exam and gave the first city preference as Silchar, second as Guwahati and third as Agartala. The last preference was Jorhat but they allotted the city as Jorhat to me in the city intimation slip on the night of June 14. The exam is on June 17.”

He added, “It is difficult for me to make arrangements and go to Jorhat from Silchar at such a short notice. They should have informed atleast 5-6 days prior to the exam date. The road condition is not favourable and it is difficult to get a train reservation now.”