Shillong: The Central government has exempted Meghalaya from the Common University Entrance Test (CEUT) 2022-23 for Under Graduate course in colleges affiliated to North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), one of premier central university in the Country.
In a letter to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, affiliated colleges of NEHU will continue with the existing practice for admission instead of CEUT after taking into concerns pertaining to geographical conditions, hilly terrain, far flung location,
limited digital connectivity and infrastructure in the State.
Earlier, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma had recently met Union Education Minister and requested the Centre to exempt the students in the state from appearing for the CUET in NEHU affiliated colleges – both private and government funded due to lack of preparedness for the exam from both authorities as well as the students.
Pradhan said the CUET has been introduced for admission at UG level in all Central Universities from the academic year 2022-23 as per the National Education Policy 2020. It has been envisioned to reduce the burden on students, universities and the entire education system.
“The CUET would assess the students of different boards at the same level, giving them equal opportunity. The students may apply to more than one universities as per their choice with one application form thereby reducing financial burden and enhancing access,” the Union Minister said, adding that students can appear in the test in 13 languages over hundreds of examination centres for admission.
He said the syllabus for undergraduate level is based on the understanding of subject at class Xll level, irrespective of affiliations to any board like CBSE, bringing a desirable change in favour of the students from Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDG).
Pradhan said the Ministry/National Testing Agency is making all the possible efforts to conduct the test for the interest of the students sorting out the difficulties in different states and by providing adequate exam centres.
The National Testing Agency has been entrusted with the responsibility of conducting the Computer Based Test.
Pradhan said the online application forms have been invited and the candidates who wish to appear CUET 2022 have been advised to go through the required eligibility criteria of the respective universities for taking admission at UG level.
