Mumbai: CUET results delay leaves students in fix over admissions

Mumbai students seeking admissions to central universities are in a fix as the delay in the Combined University Entrance Test CUET results continues Faced with the uncertainty of awaiting results or securing spots in state or private universities many students have chosen the latterStudents are now taking chances and hoping to get a transfer to their preferred institutions with refunds once the CUET results are finally released The paper leak allegations involving NEETUG and UGCNET has delayed the announcement of CUETUG results CUETUG the singlewindow test for admissions to most undergraduate programmes at 46 central universities has cast a dark shadow over the admissions calendarUniversities like Delhi University DU Banaras Hindu University BHU and Jawaharlal Nehru University JNU have announced delays in the academic calendar pushing the start of firstsemester classes by at least two weeksldquoI have already taken admission in NMIMS Mumbai along with another friend However we await CUET results and hope we get refunds as per UGC guidelines We seek guidance and clarity on this chaosrdquo said one of the studentsldquoThe delay in CUET UG results is forcing students to scramble for private universities This puts a huge financial burden on families who are counting on public options said Neelabh Bakshi whose son is seeking admission to one of the central universities in DelhiMany students took to social media platform X expressing their frustration over the delay ldquoFirst NEET and now CUET NTA seems to be enjoying playing with students lives Delay in CUET results has caused huge confusion for students who prepared for the exams Now they have no option other than to take admission in other colleges or risk it all by waitingrdquo wrote Aditya KumarManoj Gupta posted ldquoCUET results are deliberately delayed to benefit private universities so that students remain in dilemma and secure seats in private universities paying hefty feesrdquo ldquoThe Education Ministry is at it again After the NEET result fiasco now CUET results are stuck in limbo How long should students wait Maybe next theyll delay our degrees toordquo wrote another student Yuvraj Singh Most central universities including DU Ambedkar University of Delhi AUD and Aligarh Muslim University AMU are planning to start the new academic session in a staggered mode due to the delay in results They will hold extra classes in the evenings weekends and reduce breaks to cover lost academic hoursHowever many faculty members and academics warn this will create a teachinglearning gap for new students who will start classes two to three weeks later The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachersrsquo Association stated that this will burden the faculty with a shortened semesterldquoThis will impact the academic calendar There will be a huge gap in the teaching and learning process The quality of education will suffer The government must address the chaos caused by the NTArsquos exam delays The entire academic system will bear the bruntrdquo said a retired professor of JNUThis is not the first time that CUETUG results have been delayed In its debut year 2022 the results were plagued with technical glitches and were declared in September In 2023 results were announced in midJuly to accommodate candidates from Manipur due to ethnic conflicts Last year in Maharashtra CUETUG exams were chaotic with NTA initially allotting distant centres and then rescheduling exams last minute causing significant inconvenience to students This year universities and students hoped for timely results now expected by late July or early August