Kashmiri MP urges NTA to reschedule UGC-NET exams clashing with Eid-ul-Adha

SRINAGAR — Member of Parliament (Elect) from Srinagar, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi on Saturday asked the National Testing Agency (NTA) to postpone the UGC-NET June 2024 exams as the dates of the same clash with Eid-ul-Adha, stating that students of any faith and religion should not be forced into choosing between their religious duties and career.

“Despite repeated requests from the students to reschedule these exams, the NTA is unmoved. I hope it is not deliberately done to make Muslim students choose between faith and career. Students of any faith and religion should not be forced into choosing between their religious duties and careers. These exams can well be rescheduled for any time after Eid. I hope the NTA understands this simple fact and reschedules the tests,” Ruhullah told the news agency KNO.

The National Testing Agency has so far remained unmoved despite widespread pleas from Muslim students regarding the clash of the UGC NET exams scheduled for June 18, 2024, with the celebration of Eid-ul-Adha. Despite numerous appeals for a date change, the NTA has yet to take any action or provide a response.

The scheduling conflict has created significant distress among the student community. Many aspirants have expressed their concerns about the practical difficulties they face due to the unavailability of public transport and the cultural importance of the festival.

“Eid-ul-Adha is one of the most important festivals for us. It’s a time for family and religious observance. The lack of public transport on this day makes it nearly impossible for many of us to reach the exam centres. On Eid, most public transport services are either suspended or very limited. It will be extremely difficult to travel to the exam centre, and many of us do not have alternative means of transportation,” the aspirants said.

The situation has sparked widespread concern and anxiety among students. Amir Fayaz, an aspirant, highlighted the broader impact: “It’s not just about missing the festival; it’s about the practical difficulties of reaching the exam centre. We are ready to take the exam, but the timing is very problematic.”

Despite these concerns, the NTA has remained silent. Efforts to contact the agency for comments on the scheduling conflict have gone unanswered, with no response to emails or texts.