JNU and DU delay first semester classes due to the CUET UG 2024 result postponement

The delay in the announcement of the Common University Entrance Test for Undergraduates (CUET-UG) 2024 results by the National Testing Agency (NTA) has postponed the start of the first semester for undergraduate courses at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Delhi University (DU).

Jawaharlal Nehru University is experiencing a "usual" delay in starting its first semester for undergraduate courses due to the pending CUET-UG results. Vice Chancellor Santishree D Pandit confirmed that despite the delay, JNU will continue to use the CUET system for admissions. "MA admissions are already completed, and BA admissions will go through CUET," she stated. Classes will begin as soon as the results are announced.

Delhi University is also affected, with its Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh stating that the first-year semester will now likely commence on August 16 instead of August 1. However, classes for other semesters will begin as scheduled on August 1.

The CUET-UG results have been delayed by over two weeks, with the final answer keys still pending. The NTA has yet to release the CUET-UG results, initially scheduled for June 30. This delay is partly due to ongoing investigations into paper leak allegations concerning the NEET-UG and UGC-NET exams.

The CUET-UG serves as the primary admission test for undergraduate programs at 46 Central universities, including JNU and DU. The delay in CUET-UG results affects the admission timelines for all participating universities. JNU and DU are among the 261 universities awaiting these results to begin their undergraduate admission processes.

The postponement has disrupted the academic calendar, with DU’s phase two admissions portal, originally set to open by July 2, now delayed. Additionally, the NTA is set to conduct a retest for over 1,000 CUET-UG candidates across six states on July 19, 2024, due to the distribution of question papers in languages not chosen by the candidates. There is no information on when the results of this retest will be announced.

University Grants Commission (UGC) Chief M Jagadesh Kumar reassured students that the NTA is working diligently to announce the results promptly. "After the last date for the draft key challenge, experts review the challenges and prepare the final key. It usually takes about a week or two for NTA to complete this process," he told ANI.

JNU and DU have stated they are committed to starting the new academic year as soon as the CUET-UG results are published. The CUET-UG 2024 exams were conducted from May 15 to May 31 in both online and pen-and-paper formats. The results will determine admissions for various undergraduate programs, including BA (Hons.) in Foreign Languages and BSc-MSc integrated programs at JNU.