Lucknow: Allegations of a question paper leak in the UGC-NET Sociology examination held on June 30 have raised serious concerns among aspirants and PhD scholars in the city.Students have demanded a fair and time-bound investigation, saying that if the allegations are proved true, the examination must be reviewed and accountability fixed.Several candidates claimed that they have come to know that many questions circulated before the exam matched those that were asked in the test. Students also pointed out spelling errors and poor Hindi translations.“If the paper was leaked, the exam should be conducted again without delay. We spend months preparing, invest money in forms, coaching and study material, it is unfair if genuine candidates are put at a disadvantage,” said a UGC-NET aspirant, Dhananjay Verma.Candidates said the allegations have created uncertainty and anxiety.“We do not know whether to move on or start preparing again. There is confusion about results, cut-offs and whether this attempt will even count,” said a UGC-NET aspirant, Mithali Sharma.Some scholars stressed the need for transparency.“A clear timeline for investigation and communication is important. Silence from authorities only increases apprehension among candidates,” said a UGC-NET aspirant, Anil Kumar.Aspirants also highlighted the burden of a possible re-exam.“Repeating the exam means restarting the entire cycle of preparation, which is mentally and financially exhausting, but a fair system matters more,” said a candidate, Mohammad Arsalan Rafique.
