UGC NET candidates from NK don’t get preferred exam centre

Hubballi: Many students from Dharwad district and other parts of North Karnataka who have applied for UGC-National Eligibility Test which is conducted for determining the eligibility of candidates to become assistant professors or pursue junior research fellowship, are put to great inconvenience.
In the last one year, candidates are finding it difficult to attend the exam as they are not being allotted the examination centre of their choice. Many students who have chosen Dharwad as their first preferred examination centre, are being allotted Belagavi and Bengaluru. Only a few lucky ones have got Hubballi as their centre.
Candidates from Goa and Pune too are facing a similar issue. They are being allotted Belagavi when they prefer Dharwad. As candidates are not being allotted the examination centre of their choice, many poor students who are unable to afford the cost of traveling to other cities and accommodation, have skipped the exam.
Prabhakar Kamble who appeared for UGC-NET in mass communication and journalism told TOI, “I was allotted Belagavi as my centre against my preferred choice of Dharwad. As per norms, candidates must be present at the examination centre two hours before the exam. I had to leave Dharwad at 5am to reach the Belagavi centre on time.”
“On the previous exam too, I was allotted an outside centre. I thought of skipping the exam this time but somehow managed to attend. Many of my friends skipped exam since they could not afford to travel Bengaluru or Belagavi,” he added.
Revati (name changed), who appeared for UGC- NET in M Com stream said, “It is the second time I was allotted a centre in Belagavi even though my preferred choice was Dharwad. My father had to take leave to accompany me to Belagavi. It is causing a lot of inconvenience to many students. It is very difficult for poor students to travel and stay in other cities.”
‘Could not afford to travel’
A student of political science said, “I was allotted a centre in Bengaluru and I skipped the exam as I could not afford to stay in Bengaluru. Like me, many students skipped UGC-Net after they were allotted Bengaluru or Belagavi.”
Some candidates said that earlier CBSE was conducting UGC NET and it is now being done by National Testing Agency (NTA). They alleged that NTA is not bothered about students’ plight and was allotting centres where computer arrangements are available to conduct the online test.
“The on-going UGC-NET exams will be completed on Thursday and the next exam will begin probably in December. NTA should sort this issue at least by the next examination, said the students.