Shillong, May 15: The students of Meghalaya appeared for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) on Wednesday after two years of exemption.
A total of 26 centres across the state are set for the CUET examination – in Shillong twelve (12) centres, five (5) in Jowai and nine (9) in Tura.
The State has a total of 18,422 students registered for the CUET. A total of 8,535 students are expected to appear in Shillong Centers, 4,269 in Jowai and 5,618 in Tura.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) is responsible for organising the CUET Examination, the State has assisted them to identify the Examination venues.
The NTA will announce the CUET 2024 Result and CUET Score Card on June 30.
The CUET Examination is set in both online and offline mode- Computer-Based Tests (CBT) and traditional Pen-Paper Examination. The online examination will be conducted on May 21, 22 and 24. Meanwhile, the offline examination is scheduled from May 15 to 18.
In the last two years, the examination has not been conducted in the State following hue and cry from the students and pressure groups alike which compelled the State Government through the Chief Minister to write to the NTA and Central Government to exempt the students from appearing for the CUET.
In 2022, CM Conrad K Sangma has stated that Meghalaya has 12 Districts and the identified exam centre for CUET is only in Shillong which would likely cater 25,000 aspirants from across the state it will only bring distress and anxiety among students and parents especially from outlying districts.
In 2023, CM Conrad once again urged the Union government to exempt the CUET stating that the State Board examination was delayed due to the State Legislative Assembly Election and therefore students are facing unprecedented challenges to attempt the CUET for the State level undergraduate institutions.
Following the request from the Chief Minister the Ministry of Education, Government of India has decided to exempt the State of Meghalaya and other North Eastern States from appearing for the CUET.
Ten Universities across North East and other States were exempted- Sikkim University, Rajiv Gandhi University, Manipur University, Assam University, Tezpur University, Nagaland University, Tripura University, Mizoram University, NEHU and HNBGU, Uttarakhand.