UGC-NET retest: Qualifying candidates, subject-wise allocations won't be reduced: NTA sources

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is reviewing its examination processes and protocols after errors were detected in three UGC-NET papers, while also undertaking a broader overhaul of its examination system, officials said on Monday.

The agency has decided to re-conduct the UGC-NET examinations for English, Commerce and Sociology after a committee examining complaints found multiple errors in the question papers. The re-test will be held without any additional fee, and the NTA has assured candidates that the exercise will not reduce the number of qualifying candidates or alter the subject-wise allocations for the three papers.

Also Read: UGC-NET 2026: Rahul Gandhi questions NTA over cancellation of 3 papers


"The re-test is being held at no additional fee, and the number of qualifying candidates and the subject-wise allocations for those subjects will not be reduced on account of the re-test," sources said.

The decision follows complaints from candidates about errors in the three question papers. The NTA subsequently set up a committee to examine the grievances and review the papers.

Also Read: UGC-NET re-test announced for English, Commerce, Sociology papers due to question paper errors

According to the agency, the committee identified "many factual, typographical, translation errors" in the English, Commerce and Sociology papers. The errors included misspelt names of prominent scholars, garbled book titles, problems in the wording of questions, grammatical mistakes, gender and number agreement errors, punctuation issues and non-standard coined terms for established concepts.

The committee also found that a significant number of questions had been repeated from earlier examinations. It recommended that the three papers be conducted again to ensure a fair and error-free examination.

Sources said the corrective measures were being undertaken "in the overall interest of candidates" and were aimed at strengthening accountability in the examination system.

The agency is also examining the processes involved in question paper preparation, including setting, moderation, translation and composition, and is looking at ways to fix responsibility for lapses, sources said.

"The NTA is also reviewing its internal processes and protocols to ensure that such errors are addressed and prevented in future," it added.

The developments come as the NTA faces renewed criticism over its handling of competitive examinations. Opposition leaders and student groups, including NSUI, SFI and AISA, have raised concerns over the UGC-NET paper errors.

The agency is simultaneously carrying out a broader restructuring of its examination system. The NTA has removed more than 50 staff members and is bringing in professionals for key leadership positions as part of measures to reform the organisation, the education ministry said on Monday. The agency has also advertised 10 leadership positions as part of the overhaul.

The UGC-NET examination determines eligibility for appointment as assistant professors, admission to PhD programmes and award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in universities across the country.

The UGC-NET 2026 examination was held in June for 87 subjects. The NTA had also faced criticism over the delay in releasing the examination's answer key, which was released on Sunday.

The latest controversy adds to scrutiny of the testing agency following earlier disruptions involving major competitive examinations. The NTA's handling of such examinations has come under sustained public and political scrutiny, prompting calls for greater accountability and stronger safeguards in the examination process.

With inputs from ANI