The second edition of the Common University Entrance Test began without a hitch on Sunday, recording 76 per cent attendance even as the exam was delayed at 12 centers due to various reasons. However, the exam was not marred with technical glitches as in the first edition. According to UGC chairman M Jagadesh Kumar, the exams in 2 per cent centers (about 12 out of 450) started behind schedule but were successfully completed on Sunday.
“The exams started late due to some reasons like power fluctuations in some centres, and students need to follow staggered entry. The students were informed in the admit card to enter the center in a sequential manner. But at some places, due to their late arrival, there was a rush and the commencement of the examination was delayed. We request the students to come staggered to avoid such situation.
“We have now taken administrative measures to prevent such situations in future. In many cities, we have also taken the help of traffic police to reduce traffic jams around the centres,” said Kumar.
Over 2.65 lakh candidates were to appear on the first day in three shifts.
“Today’s total attendance was 76 per cent, which is almost 62 per cent more than last year’s attendance,” he said.
The attendance in the first shift was 72 per cent, while it was around 77 per cent in the second shift. The exam was conducted on Sunday at over 440 centers in 271 cities.
Meanwhile, those who were allotted exam date May 28 and also have Joint Integrated Program Management Admission (JIPMAT) at the same time have been asked to continue with their management exams as the National Testing Agency (NTA) ) has decided to reschedule. Their CUET-UG Dates. “The exam was conducted smoothly without any technical glitch. The exam was delayed at some centers due to glitches in the biometric identification process. However, they were shortlisted and all the candidates successfully completed their exam and were given their allotted time,” said a senior NTA official.
NTA has so far issued city intimation slips, which have subjects, dates and slots till May 28. Many candidates, who were allotted May 28, have also registered for JIPMAT, which is scheduled for the same date.
“NTA JIPMAT and CUET is notifying through e-mail the candidates scheduled to appear for JIPMAT on May 28. Such candidates will be allotted a separate date for the CUET-UG exam,” the official said. Unlike last year, this time the exam is being conducted in three shifts. Earlier, the exam was scheduled to be held from May 21 to May 31, but to accommodate the higher number of candidates, the National Testing Agency decided to extend the schedule by at least four days.
Over 14 lakh applications have been received for CUET-UG this year, which is a 41 per cent increase over last year’s first edition.
CUET-UG is the second largest entrance exam in the country in terms of applicants. In the first edition of CUET-UG, 12.5 lakh students registered themselves and out of them 9.9 lakh submitted their applications.
“For the second phase (May 25-28), we are working to make the admit cards available by 22nd late night or 23rd May. We will announce City Information Slips for Phase III (May 29 – June 2) on May 23.
“Around 8 lakh students are taking the exam in the first phase – from May 21 to May 25. Almost equal number of boys and girls will be writing. There are around 750 centers spread across all the states and union territories. Exams are being conducted in around 200 paper combinations in this phase,” said Kumar.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) had announced in March last year that undergraduate admissions in all central universities would be conducted through a common entrance test and not on the basis of class 12 marks.
The first edition of CUET-UG was conducted in July last year and had some glitches, which forced the NTA to cancel the exam at several centres.
While many students were informed about the cancellation a night before the exams, many of them were turned away from the centres.
The UGC chairman had then said that the exams had been canceled following reports of “sabotage” at some centres.
“NTA has taken all measures to test the preparation of all centers with respect to computers, network infrastructure and security. SOPs have been given to the supervisors and inspectors of all the centres. Dummy tests have been done to check for any possible problems.
Additional computers have been arranged at each centre. In case of any unforeseen problem with the computers, students can be immediately shifted to these computers,” he said.
According to NTA officials, there was a delay of around 80 minutes in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, refreshments were served to parents and candidates and also the NTA arranged transport, especially for women candidates, to bring them back home Could
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI,