Ayodhya consecration date, descriptions of Hanuman, among questions asked in UGC-NET exam
New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) announced the cancellation of the UGC-NET examination on Wednesday, a day after it was conducted. The decision followed specific inputs from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, indicating potential cyber threats associated with the examination.
The cancellation has led to significant disruptions for numerous candidates who had appeared for the test, designed to determine eligibility for college and university level lectureships and for awarding Junior Research Fellowships.
Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha CPI(M) MP John Brittas has expressed serious concerns regarding the nature of questions asked in the recently conducted UGC-NET exam. He has alleged that the exam is being used to promote a particular ideological agenda, which he referred to as the "saffronisation" of education.
In his statement, Brittas criticized the inclusion of questions that he claimed were more aligned with religious studies rather than the intended academic disciplines. "When NEET to NET collapses... see how saffronisation is done; NET questions for a Theatre student include the Ayodhya consecration date, descriptions of Hanuman, specific slokas in the Ramayan, and other references to the Mahabharata and Hindi exponents. How do we intend to mould our next generation?" he questioned.
Brittas further shared images on ‘X’ (formerly known as Twitter) that purportedly displayed portions of the UGC-NET question paper. One of the shared images showed a question asking for the consecration date of the Ram temple, while other questions related to the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and other religious texts.
The controversy over the content of the UGC-NET exam questions comes at a time when the Indian education system is under intense scrutiny, with debates over curriculum content and ideological influences becoming increasingly prominent.
In response to these concerns, the UGC is yet to issue a statement addressing the specific allegations of ideological bias in the exam questions. The Ministry of Education, which oversees the UGC, also has not commented on the matter.
When NEET to NET collapses.. see how saffronisation done; NET qstns for a Theatre sturdent- Ayodhya pranprathishta date, how Hanuman is described, the sloka in Ramayan,beheaded but kept alive in Mahabharata, Hindi exponent…How do we intend to mould our next generation?! pic.twitter.com/OeneeMZqcy
— John Brittas (@JohnBrittas) June 20, 2024
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Karnataka launches state-led Centre of Excellence for Space Technology in Bengaluru
Bengaluru (PTI): In a significant boost to India’s rapidly expanding space economy, the Karnataka government on Friday launched the country’s first state-led Centre of Excellence for Space Technology here, officials said.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening India’s capabilities to translate space innovation into scalable commercial outcomes, they said.
The Centre, established by the Government of Karnataka through the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society in collaboration with SIA (Satcom Industry Association India) -India, was inaugurated by Minister for Electronics, IT/BT, and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Priyank Kharge, in the presence of senior officials and industry leaders, officials said.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Kharge said that Karnataka has consistently been at the forefront of India's technology and innovation journey. With the launch of this Centre of Excellence for Space Technology, we are extending that leadership into one of the most strategic sectors of the future.
"Our focus is not just on advancing research, but on creating an ecosystem where innovation can translate into real-world applications, economic growth, and high-quality jobs. This Centre will play a critical role in positioning Karnataka as a key driver of India's space economy," he said.
According to an official statement, the CoE SpaceTech Foundation has been established under a Memorandum of Agreement between KITS and SIA-India to drive research and innovation in space technologies, industry-aligned training, startup incubation and cross-sector applications, it said.
The Centre has also formalised strategic MoUs with multiple industry and academic partners to support research in space biotech and microgravity, enable collaboration, build talent pipelines, and provide startups with training and market access, it added.
