CSIR NET aspirants allege discrimination, demand exam centres within J&K

Srinagar, Dec 12: Resentment is brewing among the aspiring candidates against the National Testing Agency (NTA) for designating their exam centres for upcoming CSIR NET exams outside J&K state.

The move has agitated the candidates who allege that their centres have been designated outside J&K state to create hurdles for them.

The NET exams are set to be conducted on December 18 by National Testing Agency (NTA)-the exam conducting body authorised by the UGC established as a premier, specialist, autonomous and self-sustained testing organization to conduct entrance examinations for admission, fellowship in higher educational institutions from 2018.

“The pathetic thing is that many students have their centres in Delhi, Punjab and other States. It is discrimination with aspirants from J&K,” one of the aspirants told Greater Kashmir.

The candidates said they selected their exam centres in Jammu, Samba, Baramulla and Srinagar districts but none of the choices have been considered by NTA.

“Most of the students have their exam centres outside J&K state,” the aspirants said.

The aggrieved candidates said it was not possible for them to afford air tickets during the prevailing circumstances and travel to other states for appearing in the exams.

The candidates said that despite paying a huge amount of application fee to NTA they have been allotted the exam centres far away from J&K.

"It is not possible for us to travel long distances during these winters. NTA is playing with the career of students," an aspirant from Rajouri told Greater Kashmir.

The aspirants urged the NTA to allocate their exam centres within J&K before the link to download admit cards is thrown open.

"The J&K government must take up the matter with the NTA to get our genuine grievance addressed," the aspirants said.

Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)- University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (NET) for Junior Research Fellowship is a national-level exam testing eligibility for research fellowships (JRF) and Assistant Professorship in Science & Technology subjects