{
  "id": 1861217,
  "title": "UGC NET row: Students, teachers flag disputed questions, raise concerns over NTA exam process",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/ugc-net-row-students-teachers-flag-disputed-questions-raise-concerns",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-19T03:53:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hindustan Times",
    "slug": "hindustan-times",
    "url": "https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ugc-net-row-students-teachers-flag-disputed-questions-raise-concerns-over-nta-exam-process-101787111244281.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Students who took the UGC NET exam expressed concerns over disputed answer options and the National Testing Agency's (NTA) examination process. Teachers also visited the NTA office in Delhi to seek clarification on the answer key and discuss challenges in contesting questions. One issue highlighted was the cost associated with challenging disputed questions, with each challenge costing ₹200. Aspirant Suchitra Srivastava pointed out that 14 questions in the Political Science paper were challengeable, yet the financial burden of challenging them could reach ₹2,800. She also raised concerns about discrepancies in her recorded responses, noting that 24 questions were marked incorrectly on her response sheet. Srivastava demanded that her examination paper be rechecked and her responses verified, emphasizing that such discrepancies could significantly impact candidates' scores and eligibility for JRF, Assistant Professor, and PhD admissions. Teacher Pradyuman Tripathi also voiced concerns, particularly about the Political Science answer key, stating that problems with the examination process became more apparent from 2023-24 onwards. He criticized the lack of a systematic examination calendar and questioned how examination-related issues are being managed. These concerns arose amid ongoing scrutiny of the UGC NET examination and its answer-key process, underscoring the importance of the challenge mechanism in ensuring accurate final scores and eligibility. The UGC NET exam, held from June 22 to June 30, 2026, across 87 subjects, had its answer key released for 84 subjects on August 16, with the objection window closing on August 18, 2026. The NTA is set to reconduct three exam papers—English, Commerce, and Sociology—in September due to complaints about multiple errors in those subjects.",
  "summary": "Aspirants and teachers have raised concerns over disputed questions, discrepancies in recorded responses and the NTA’s answer-key challenge process in UGC NET.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}