SFI opposes NTA's decision regarding CUET PG fee hike

NEW DELHI: The Students’ Federation of India has opposed the National Testing Agency's (NTA) decision of increasing fees for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) PG exams. CUET PG 2024 registrations has commenced, and the exams are scheduled from March 11 to March 28, 2024

The CUET fee hike, which ranges from Rs 200 to Rs 600 depending on the category, has sparked considerable resentment among students. Fees for general category students have been revised to Rs 1,200, Rs 1,000 for Other Backward Class (OBC) and EWS students, Rs 900 for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and transgender students, and Rs 800 for PwD students.

Furthermore, the fee for additional test papers has increased from Rs 500 to Rs 600 each paper.

The SFI, which represents student interests, expressed opposition to the CUET PG fee hike, calling it a barrier to educational diversity and an unfair financial burden on students, particularly those belonging to the marginalised community.

The SFI press release read “The justification given for the fee hike by the head of NTA, is a flimsy logic suited for profit making corporations”.

According to SFI, The BJP-led central government and its backed agency NTA have entirely failed to make CUET an inclusive examination procedure. This fee increase is just another example of callous disregard towards students' concerns and divergence from ensuring equal access to higher education.

The press release read further “We demand that the NTA should immediately revoke the increased fee structure. We also appeal students to raise voice against such arbitrary decisions made which has become an economic burden for students”.

SFI considers CUET PG fee hike decision as another step towards privatisation of education by the government. SFI says, the expense of operations shall not be borne by students.