The National Testing Agency (NTA) has recently announced a significant hike in the fees for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for postgraduate programs, triggering discontent among students and various student organizations. According to a notification by the agency, the fee increase varies for different categories, ranging from ₹200 to ₹500.
Let’s break down the fee changes in a tabular form:
| Category | Previous Fee (₹) | Revised Fee (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| Unreserved | 1,000 | 1,200 |
| OBC and EWS | 800 | 1,000 |
| SC/ST/Transpersons | 750 | 900 |
| PwD | 700 | 800 |
| Additional Test Papers (General) | 500 | 600 |
| Additional Test Papers (Others) | 400 | 500 |
Keep visiting our website www.vidyastudy.com for regular updates on NTA-related information like admit card, result, registration dates, exam schedule, registration form etc.
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The fee hike comes at a time when CUET forms for the academic year 2024-25 were released on December 26, with candidates now able to fill them out online. This move has not gone unnoticed, especially by the Students Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of CPI(M), which has condemned the increase as a “blatant attack” on students.
SFI, in response to the fee hike, met with NTA officials, who cited “insufficient funds” from the Centre as the primary reason behind the decision. However, the Director-General of NTA, Subodh Kumar Singh, disputes this claim. He clarified that while there is indeed an increase in fees, it remains lower than that of exams like JEE, JEE Advanced, or CAT. Singh emphasized that NTA is self-sustained through student fees and does not rely on government funds.
Despite Singh’s clarification, the SFI continues to protest against what they perceive as an unjustified burden on students. The SFI argues that such fee hikes limit accessibility to education, particularly for students from marginalized communities.
In 2023, over 833,000 students participated in the CUET examinations, with 195 universities across the country taking part. The current controversy surrounding the fee hike adds to the ongoing debates about the cost of education and the accessibility of higher education for all. As students voice their concerns, the NTA’s decision is likely to face further scrutiny in the coming weeks.
