The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) based on multiple choice questions on the decades old subjective entrance test pattern, Academics are raising doubts over the new exam pattern for postgraduate admissions in Jawaharlal Nehru University.
The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) based on multiple choice questions on the decades old subjective entrance test pattern, Academics are raising doubts over the new exam pattern for postgraduate admissions in Jawaharlal Nehru University.
Earlier, the university used to admit students to undergraduate courses through subjective examinations conducted by it. However, from 2019, it started admitting students through the JNU entrance exam conducted by NTA. The university had announced earlier this year that it would conduct admission to all undergraduate and postgraduate courses through CUET.
The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), which sees stiff competition in admissions to its Masters programmes, fears that the Multiple-Choice Question (MCQ) based exam pattern will undermine the quality of students attracted by the university.
For Masters programmes, we need to test the overall understanding, opinion, and critical thinking of the subject apart from the knowledge. MCQs have a different test pattern and aptitude, – he said.
JNU Vice Chancellor S. According to D. Pandit, the university has been appealing to the centre to change the CUET format for postgraduate admissions.
We also must keep in mind the unique nature of the university and the peculiarities of the various centres and the courses offered by them. There is a reason why the university attracts the best talent from across the country and its selection process, said JNU Professor B. Dutt.
The JNU Teachers’ Association recently moved a resolution demanding that the university suspend its agreement with the National Testing Agency and immediately reinstate its time-tested admissions procedures of JNU.
66 universities, mostly centre operated, have adopted computer based CUET PG for admission in the academic session 2025-26. It will be conducted in two shifts each on September 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11 in around 500 cities in India and 13 centres abroad. Delhi University professor Abha Dev Habib lauded the JNU Vice Chancellor for raising her voice against the CUET format.
JNU professor A. Kidwai said the university had its own entrance test system, which analysed students based on their writing skills and their ability to form opinions.
If we must provide equal opportunity to all, then CUET-PG may be a subjective test but testing the candidates of Master’s program based on MCQ based test is not the right metric, – he said.
Every university has different postgraduate syllabus and a different character, which will be hindered by CUET. Also, the technical glitches in CUET-UG have been a big disappointment for the students, who wish to study in central universities.
The University of Delhi (DU) conducts DUET which is also based on MCQ format, but the difference is that it is being done by the university, which means the authority of the university to prepare the MCQ and decide the students and a fixed filtering process but with CUET, it will be a one size fits all approach.
