The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — Hundreds of Kashmiri students this year are likely to skip Common University Entrance Test (CUET) as a major hurdle for these students is to appear for this test at different examination centres outside Jammu and Kashmir.

If the National Testing Agency doesn’t designate examination centres in Kashmir Valley, these students are likely to skip the test.

The Common University Entrance Test, earlier known as Central Universities Common Entrance Test, is an all-India test being organized by the National Testing Agency for admission to various Undergraduate, Integrated, Postgraduate, Diploma, Certification courses and Research Programmes in 45 Central Universities of India.

Two days back, National Testing Agency issued an exam city intimation slip that shocked the Kashmir-based students whose examination centres have been designated outside the erstwhile state. The entrance test will take place on May 25, 26, 27 and 28 and if students are to be believed, they won’t appear if NTA doesn’t change its decision.

“I am not financially sound. The examination centre for my daughter has been designated at Bhatinda Punjab. Naturally, she will miss it as I can’t afford the airfare,” Inayat Ahmed, a resident of Hajin Bandipora told the news agency KNT.

The ‘diktat’ from NTA triggered a protest in Valley. Distressed students have been appealing to authorities to impress upon the NTA to set up examination centres in Kashmir for Kashmiri students.

“This is ridiculous, tantamount to harassment. Students have gone into depression. Don’t know why this happens to Kashmiri students only,” said an agitated parent, adding that he can’t send his daughter outside Jammu and Kashmir.

Parents as well as students said that domestic flight fares are at par with international rates. Students from poor backgrounds can’t afford to travel outside Jammu and Kashmir. They called upon Lieutenant Governor of J&K Manoj Sinha to promptly intervene and address the issue by establishing examination centres within Kashmir itself.

Meanwhile, several political leaders including Ghulam Nabi Azad, Syed Altaf Bukhari, GM Shaheen and others have made a fervent appeal to LG Manoj Sinha to intervene in the matter and save the future of the students.

SRINAGAR — In line with the UGC guidelines and implementation of National Education Policy 2020, the University of Kashmir (KU) will be admitting students to Undergraduate programmes in its affiliated colleges on the basis of a Common University Entrance Test (CUET) from the current academic session (2023).

After taking a review of the impending admission process through CUET, Vice-Chancellor KU Prof Nilofer Khan said the detailed admission notification for various UG programmes will be available on the Kashmir University website from March 6, 2023.

She said the CUET is being held by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to provide a single-window opportunity for students to seek admission to any of the universities across the country.

The admissions will be made on the basis of score/merit obtained in the CUET and the students desirous of seeking admission in the varsity’s affiliated colleges have been advised to register themselves with the NTA as per the instructions available on the NTA website.

Candidates having passed the qualifying examination (10+2) with required eligibility as shown against each programme are eligible to apply. Also, the candidates whose 10+2 examination is scheduled during March-April 2023 are also eligible to apply with the rider that they shall be granted admission only after acquiring the requisite eligibility.

As per the NTA notification, the CUET will be a Computer Based Test (CBT).

The last date for online submission of application forms is March 12, 2023 (till 9 PM), while the last date for successful transaction of fee through Credit/Debit/NET-Banking/UPI is also March 12, 2023 (till 11:50 PM).

The correction in particulars can be made from March 15, 2023 to March 18, 2023 (till 11:50 PM) and the announcement date for the City of Examination is April 30, 2023.

The admit cards can be downloaded from the NTA website in the second week of May 2023 and the date of examination is May 21, 2023 onwards.

SRINAGAR — The government has issued a notification for the Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) for students of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh under General stream courses.

University Grants Commission (UGC) has made CUET (Common University Entrance Examination) compulsory for admission in undergraduate programmes in all Central Universities from the academic session 2022-23.

National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct the exam in July 2022 for which the registration will commence on April 2, 2022, on the NTA portal.

All aspiring students of J&K and Ladakh desirous of availing the benefits of PMSSS should apply for registration and appear for CUET as and when conducted for admissions in Central Universities, State Universities, and other Private Universities for the academic session 2022-23.

All the students may visit the NTA portal and UGC website for detailed information.