CUET-UG 2024: NTA Extends Registration Date Till April 5
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced the CUET (UG) – 2024 form submission last date extension till April 5, 2024. This is the second time that the agency has extended the form submission date following the request of the candidates and other stakeholders. Earlier, the extension was made from March 26 to March 31, and now again till April 5 (up to 9:50 PM).
As per the notification, the correction window will remain open from April 6, 2024, to April 7, 2024 (till 11:50 PM). It also informs about the identity proof validity which allows candidates to use their school or any other valid identity card with a photograph to facilitate identification.
Valid identity proofs
Now candidates can opt for login and identification for the online submission form to register with various options which includes
Aadhar card
ABC ID
Passport
Pan Card
Candidates are advised to keep visiting the official website – exams.nta.ac.in for the latest updates.
Based on the request received from candidates and other stakeholders, the last date for CUET-(UG) 2024 is extended upto 5th April 2024 9.50 pm#UGC #CUET #CUETUG #CUET2024 pic.twitter.com/o4aUoGBGde
— UGC INDIA (@ugc_india) March 31, 2024
Rationale to include other identification options
Notably, Digi locker and ABC ID also require, an Aadhar card for registration which makes it the main identity proof to fill in the application process. Reportedly, this provision is creating nuance among the applicants whose Aadhar cards are not updated. To handle the issue NTA has added school or any other valid identity card with a photograph to facilitate student’s identification for the upcoming exam.
Analysts also consider the mandatory provision of Aadhar as a violation of the privacy of students. In addition, as per the Ministry of External Affairs reports, only 10 percent of the total population holds a passport, so in this case, the provision of a passport is not feasible for students. In this regard, Avinav Kumar, a cyber security researcher wrote a letter to Subodh Kumar Singh, Director General of, the National Testing Agency (NTA) seeking alternate options for registration and application without a UID/Aadhar Number.
What Supreme Court say on the issue?
Earlier in 2018, in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy vs Union of India, the Supreme Court struck down some of the provisions of the Aadhar Act, 2016, and noted that the government cannot make Aadhar mandatory for availing of non-welfare benefits or services.
The issue of mandating Aadhar for students to avail of government services has also been taken forward by the students to the Delhi High Court by students. Premvir Singh Delhi University Law student filed a petition on making Aadhar ID the only ID to access the DigiLocker, which is mandatory to enrol in the Academic Bank of Credit, the Delhi High Court asked UGC and Centre for their stand on this. The acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet P S Arora gave time to the counsel to take instructions from the authorities and apprise the court of the matter.
