Shillong, May 12: Meghalaya Education Minister Rakkam A. Sangma has once again flagged serious concerns over the National Testing Agency’s (NTA) handling of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET-UG) 2025, citing repeated failures in allocating examination centres within the state.
“This happened last year too. Had the NTA communicated with us in time, we could have prepared accordingly,” Sangma said. He shared that the issue has disrupted students’ preparations and caused widespread anxiety, especially among those from economically weaker backgrounds.
Several students who opted for centres in Meghalaya, particularly in Shillong, have been allotted far-off locations like Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Mizoram, Nagaland, Kolkata, and even the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. With some exams starting as early as May 13, students are being forced to travel at great expense, and in some cases, may be compelled to skip the exam altogether.
The Education Minister confirmed that the state has written to the NTA requesting deferment of exams for students allotted distant centres. A departmental helpline has also been activated to identify and assist affected students.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has also taken up the matter with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, urging him to direct the NTA to reallocate CUET centres within the state and defer exams until adequate infrastructure is in place. In a letter to Pradhan, the Chief Minister stated, “This development has placed an undue burden on students and disrupted their academic preparation. Many may be forced to forgo the examination.”
Despite repeated assurances and the Meghalaya government’s full cooperation, including identification of potential centres and formation of state and district-level committees, the NTA did not communicate with state authorities, instead notifying students only days before the exams.
“We have already identified more computer centres, and NTA inspection teams are arriving tomorrow and the day after. We hope students scheduled to write exams later this week will be accommodated locally,” the Education Minister said.
He added that the state is pursuing a long-term solution by strengthening its own State University. “Colleges affiliated to the State University won’t need to go through CUET. That’s the alternative we’re pushing to avoid such chaos in future,” he noted.
Currently, the university is functioning from the Directorate of Educational Research and Training (DERT) premises, while the government is exploring both temporary and permanent campuses. However, a dispute over the Bijni Complex between the state and North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) is pending in court, delaying immediate relocation.
The government has also requested land allocation from the Urban Affairs Department for establishing a permanent campus in New Shillong. Meanwhile, Education Minister assured that the university is operational and ready to begin admissions for the new academic session.
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