Overview
- The National Testing Agency posted a public clarification on Thursday night saying the Rs 200 fee charged per question is refunded when a subject‑expert upholds a challenge and that one valid objection updates the answer key for every exam taker.
- The agency said the fee’s purpose is to discourage frivolous or unsupported objections and not to profit from genuine challenges, and it urged candidates with evidence to submit formal objections through the prescribed portal.
- A committee convened by the NTA found multiple errors in UGC‑NET papers for English, Commerce and Sociology, and the agency has ordered re‑tests for those three subjects.
- NTA sources said the re‑tests will be held at no extra cost to candidates and that subject‑wise qualifying allocations will not be reduced because of the re‑tests.
- The episode has intensified scrutiny of NTA procedures and the agency says it is strengthening paper setting, moderation, translation and oversight to prevent future errors, with student groups continuing to press for accountability.