Postpone UGC NET exam date 2024, clashing with Pongal; Tamil Nadu MPs write to Dharmendra Pradhan

NEW DELHI: The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leaders have written to the Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan urging to postpone the University Grants Commission - National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) December 2024 exam to avoid clash with the Pongal festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu.

The Congress MP Jothimani urged the education minister to defer the UGC NET exam date 2024 falling on “Pongal, which is a symbol of life, culture and tradition of Tamils”. “The union government should stop holding exams on Pongal as it is a continuous attack on the culture and cultural identities of Tamils,” she said.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) notified the UGC NET schedule for the December 2024 session and announced to administer exams for 85 subjects starting January 3 to January 16. The DMK MP Kanimozhi has also written a letter to the Union education minister requesting that the UGC NET exam, scheduled to be held on January 15 and 16, be postponed.

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“This lack of consideration is becoming a pattern, as we recently had to fight for a date change when the CA exams were also scheduled on Pongal. I strongly condemn this appalling decision by the BJP-led Union Government, as it shows complete insensitivity towards the sentiments of Tamil Nadu,” Kanimozhi added. Exams for 30 subjects will be conducted by the NTA during Pongal celebrations.

Taking a dig at the BJP-led government, Jothimani wrote in the letter: “The timing of the exam is inopportune for lakhs of students appearing for the exam from the State. In addition to Pongal, this period also coincides with several other major festivals such as Makar Sankranti, Lohri, and Basant Panchami, which are celebrated in various parts of the country.”