NEW DELHI—The Chairman of Markazi Taleemi Board (MTB), Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Prof. Salim Engineer, has demanded accountability for canceling the NET exam.

In a statement to the media, the MTB Chairman said, “We are extremely concerned over the cancellation of the UGC-NET 2024 exam. This is a serious blunder by the National Testing Agency (NTA). This cancellation is going to affect the future of lakhs of students. Should not the Education Minister and NTA Chairman be held accountable for the failure to uphold examination standards? The incompetence of the NTA is very apparent as they have botched up the NEET(UG) 2024 examination as well. Why was the NET exam canceled for all the students? When every exam center is under CCTV surveillance and monitored so strictly, why could the specific centers (which reported problems) not be identified? Re-examination should be held for those students only, and not for the entire student community that appeared for the exam. The NTA was established in 2017 by the NDA government. The government must take responsibility for jeopardizing the future of so many students. The Markazi Taleemi Board demands a high-level inquiry into the NET exam cancellation, the report of which should be made public.”

Prof. Salim Engineer added, “The Markazi Taleemi Board demands the government reveal the reason for the cancellation. Citing reasons for cancellation by using vague terms like ‘integrity of the exam was compromised’ is not correct. A detailed explanation should be offered by the Education Minister and the NTA Chairman in an open press conference. This entire fiasco has tarnished the reputation of the NTA and diminished the trust of the people in the government’s ability to ensure the welfare of the student community. One nation – one exam has proven to be a significant failure. The NTA has completely failed in administering these exams on such a large scale. MTB urges the government to decentralize these exams and conduct them through state governments. MTB demands that the government take urgent steps to restore faith in the examination system and punish those found guilty of irregularities and malpractices.”