The UGC NET June 2025 examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) has been embroiled in controversy, with numerous students and educators alleging significant discrepancies and even calling it a “scam.” The primary concerns revolve around errors in answer keys, mismatches in recorded responses, and confusing question framing, jeopardizing the future of many aspirants.

Key Allegations and Issues:

• Incorrect Response Sheets and Answer Key Discrepancies: A widespread issue reported by students is that their marked answers during the exam do not match the responses recorded in the provisional answer key. Students are confident in their selections, especially for well-known concepts, but the answer sheets show different, often incorrect, options. This has led to frustration and distrust among candidates. (Source: UGC NET Answer Key Glitch, UGC NET Answer Key 2025: Incorrect Responses, UGC NET Answer Key Discrepancy)
• Errors in Question Papers: Beyond incorrect answer keys, there are reports of flaws within the question papers themselves. These include:
  • Identical Options: Some questions had the same options listed multiple times, making it difficult to choose the correct answer.
  • Confusing Question Framing: Poorly framed questions and confusing numbering or presentation of options led to misinterpretations.
  • Spelling Errors: Basic spelling mistakes were observed in questions, which can confuse candidates.
  • Missing Correct Options: In certain questions, the technically correct answer was not even provided among the given options.
  • Inaccurate Terminology: The use of incorrect terms in questions, such as “conclusions” instead of “convolutions” in a psychology question, further added to the confusion. (Source: NTA UGC NET Exam Errors)
• NTA’s Policy on Incorrect Questions: The NTA’s policy for awarding marks in cases of incorrect or dropped questions has also come under fire. If a question is found to be incorrect and subsequently dropped, two marks are awarded to all candidates who attempted the question. Critics argue this unfairly benefits candidates who may have guessed, as there is no negative marking, potentially impacting the fairness of results and cut-off scores. (Source: NTA Answer Key Mistakes)
• Financial Burden on Students: Students are further burdened by having to pay ₹200 per question to challenge these errors, adding to their distress. (Source: NTA UGC NET Exam Errors)

Call to Action:

Students and educational platforms are urging collective action to address these issues. They advise affected students to:

• Email the NTA: Send clear emails to the NTA, detailing the discrepancies in their response sheets. [Email ID: ugcnet@nta.ac.in]
• Visit NTA Office: Students in proximity to Delhi are encouraged to visit the NTA office to report issues in person.
• Join Online Groups: Stay updated through Telegram groups and other online forums for coordinated efforts to resolve the issues.
• Report through Forms: Fill out Google Forms provided by educational channels to compile complaints, which will then be collectively submitted to the NTA. (Source: UGC NET Answer Key Glitch, UGC NET Answer Key 2025: Incorrect Responses, UGC NET Answer Key Discrepancy)

The concerns are amplified by what is perceived as NTA’s history of blunders, including past paper leaks, delayed results, and late release of admit cards. The urgency to address these issues is paramount before the final answer key and results are declared, as these errors have a significant impact on students’ ability to qualify for JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) or NET (National Eligibility Test).