Despite freezing cold in Kashmir valley, no examination centre for UGC NET held on Sunday had kept heating arrangements for the aspirants.
Thousands of aspirants today appeared in NET exams in Srinagar centers but no centre kept heating arrangements for candidates.
Although the candidates pay fees for examination and other miscellaneous expenses at the time of application, the centers along with the UGC siphon off the money without providing heating arrangements in Kashmir.
Dozens of candidates told Srinagar-based news agency Kashmir Dot Com- (KDC) that no centre kept heating arrangements for them during the cold which froze their hands while writing the computer-based exam.
“It was very difficult to fill the computer-based OMR sheet or write on rough papers due to the freezing cold. We pay the money but in return get nothing, not even a glass of water,” candidates said.
“No centre had kept heating arrangements despite the cold temperature in the Valley due to winter,” they said.
The National Eligibility Test (NET) is conducted on behalf of the University Grants Commission (UGC) for determining the eligibility of Indian nationals for the Eligibility of Assistant Professorship, Junior Research Fellowship or both, for Indian Universities and Colleges.
Until June 2018, the NET was conducted by CBSE in 84 subjects in 91 cities across the country. Thereafter from December 2018 onwards, the UGC- NET is being conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
The candidates said that NTA and UGC should first assess the centres and allot only those centers which can provide heating arrangements for Kashmir during winter. (KDC)