The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced the postponement of the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET), originally scheduled for January 15, 2025. The exam has been deferred due to the overlap with major festivals, including Pongal and Makar Sankranti. A new date for the examination will be announced soon, the NTA confirmed, but the UGC-NET paper scheduled for January 16 will proceed as planned.
In its statement, the NTA clarified that it had received requests to reschedule the January 15 exam due to the importance of the festivals, particularly in Tamil Nadu, where Pongal holds significant cultural value. The agency took this into account in the interest of the candidates.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin welcomed the postponement, expressing his satisfaction with the NTA's decision. In a statement on social media, Stalin emphasized that the scheduling of exams on such culturally significant days was a recurring issue that often required state intervention. He further criticized the central government for its lack of sensitivity towards Tamil traditions, noting that his letter to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had called for a rescheduling of the exam to avoid disruption for students in Tamil Nadu.
This decision to postpone the UGC-NET exam follows previous concerns raised by political leaders, including DMK MP Kanimozhi, who had written to the Union Minister urging the government to reconsider holding exams on Tamil festival days. She had argued that the timing of the exam would interfere with both the cultural celebrations and exam preparations of Tamil students.
The UGC-NET, conducted twice a year by the NTA on behalf of the University Grants Commission, is an essential exam for students aspiring for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), assistant professor positions, and PhD admissions.