Kashmiri students likely to skip CUET as exam centres designated outside J-K

SRINAGAR — Hundreds of Kashmiri students this year are likely to skip Common University Entrance Test (CUET) as a major hurdle for these students is to appear for this test at different examination centres outside Jammu and Kashmir.

If the National Testing Agency doesn’t designate examination centres in Kashmir Valley, these students are likely to skip the test.

The Common University Entrance Test, earlier known as Central Universities Common Entrance Test, is an all-India test being organized by the National Testing Agency for admission to various Undergraduate, Integrated, Postgraduate, Diploma, Certification courses and Research Programmes in 45 Central Universities of India.

Two days back, National Testing Agency issued an exam city intimation slip that shocked the Kashmir-based students whose examination centres have been designated outside the erstwhile state. The entrance test will take place on May 25, 26, 27 and 28 and if students are to be believed, they won’t appear if NTA doesn’t change its decision.

“I am not financially sound. The examination centre for my daughter has been designated at Bhatinda Punjab. Naturally, she will miss it as I can’t afford the airfare,” Inayat Ahmed, a resident of Hajin Bandipora told the news agency KNT.

The ‘diktat’ from NTA triggered a protest in Valley. Distressed students have been appealing to authorities to impress upon the NTA to set up examination centres in Kashmir for Kashmiri students.

“This is ridiculous, tantamount to harassment. Students have gone into depression. Don’t know why this happens to Kashmiri students only,” said an agitated parent, adding that he can’t send his daughter outside Jammu and Kashmir.

Parents as well as students said that domestic flight fares are at par with international rates. Students from poor backgrounds can’t afford to travel outside Jammu and Kashmir. They called upon Lieutenant Governor of J&K Manoj Sinha to promptly intervene and address the issue by establishing examination centres within Kashmir itself.

Meanwhile, several political leaders including Ghulam Nabi Azad, Syed Altaf Bukhari, GM Shaheen and others have made a fervent appeal to LG Manoj Sinha to intervene in the matter and save the future of the students.