Meghalaya Govt asks NTA to defer CUET exams for students allotted centres outside the state: Rakkam 

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 12, 2025

The state government has asked the National Testing Agency (NTA) to immediately defer the Common University Entrance Test (CUET -UG) for students from Meghalaya, who have been allocated examination centres in other states. 

Informing this on Monday, Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma said, “We are written a strong letter to the NTA today (asking) to defer all the exams for students, who have been allocated (examination centres) in far off locations from the state.”

“We have already instructed the department of education to contact affected students,” he added.

Sangma also informed that NTA has communicated to the state government for identify more centres in order to have additional 200 computers for the smooth conduct of the CUET examination. Accordingly, a team from the NTA will be conducting an inspection of these identified centres.

“We have identified the infrastructure and we communicated to the NTA and they will come tomorrow to inspect on whether they fulfill the criteria or not,” he stated. 

Further, the minister also mentioned that the state government has expressed strongly on the need for the NTA to appoint a full-fledged nodal officer in the state. 

“NTA should have informed the state government properly in time so that we can take measures so that students do not face any problems,” he said adding “However after being informed about the issue, the chief minister had also met union education minister and we are on the job (to resolve the issue).”

Also, the education minister said the problem has yet arisen in the state of Meghalaya because of NTA’s failure to communicate with the state government.

“They (NTA) communicated one day or two days before the scheduled exams. The examination will start from tomorrow and some of the students have already left for the different locations. So we cannot do anything on that. However after taking up the matter with the union education minister by the chief minister in Delhi yesterday, the NTA contacted the state government for identifying more centres and we are on the job.”

Asked, Sangma said, “I am sure those students who are having exams after this week, definitely those exams will be deferred and will be relocated as assured by the NTA. For tomorrow, some students have already left for centres which are nearby. 

But those allotted to far places like Jharkhand, those will be held on May 19 and for that I think we can sorted out. I mean we expect students who are alloted centres in far locations that will be addressed.” 

On the reason behind not finding a permanent solution to this issue, Sangma said, “This is because it is not the state government’s decision. Therefore, we have established a state university. Colleges affiliated to the state university do not require undergo CUET examination for admission. NTA has to conduct and it is their decision. We cannot do anything on that.” 

According to him, the process of college affiliating to the state university is going on. 

Again on asked since education is a state subject, if he thinks NTA is undermining the state government, the minister however said, “It is not like that. It is clear that those colleges affiliated with central universities, they have to undergo this CUET examination. Therefore, we will request the institutions as to why should we face this kind of challenge again and again. If they can affiliate to the state university, it is simple as that.” 

He further reiterated that the problem is avoidable had the NTA communicated to the state government in time. “We could have done all the required measures,”Sangma stated.