Fake News! NTA dismisses rumour claiming students who vote will be barred from appearing in exams

The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday dismissed as false a rumour claiming that students with the voting ink on their fingers will be barred from appearing for the examination. In a press release issued today, the NTA said it had come across a piece of information circulating on social media platforms that claimed that students will be prevented from appearing for the exam if they are found with a blue mark of voting on their index fingers

Dismissing these claims as unfounded, the NTA said that no such instructions or guidelines have been issued by the testing agency. In an official statement, the NTA urged students to disregard these rumours, reaffirming that exercising their voting rights would not impact their eligibility to sit for examinations.

The agency further advised students to concentrate on their studies and prepare diligently for the upcoming examinations.

As per the schedule announced by the Election Commission of India, voting for the Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases between April 19 and June 1, which has hindered some important events like IPL and entrance exam dates.

Several competitive and entrance exams, such as the UPSC Civil Service prelims and NEET PG, have been rescheduled due to the upcoming elections. Among the affected exams are the Maharashtra Health and Technical Common Entrance Test (MHT CET), the Telangana State Engineering, Agriculture & Pharmacy Common Entrance Test (TS EAPCET), the Telangana State Polytechnic Common Entrance Test (TS POLYCET), and the Chartered Accountant (CA) exams.

Revised dates for some of these exams are as follows:

MHT CET (PCM and PCB): Originally slated for April 16-30, will now take place from May 2-17 for Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM), and April 22-30 for Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB). Admit cards will be issued 10 days prior to the exam.

JEE Main 2024: The entrance test will now be held from April 4-12 instead of the earlier schedule of April 4-15.

TS EAPCET 2024: Scheduled for May 9-12, the exam will take place in two shifts, with the first session from 9 am to 12 noon and the second from 3 pm to 6 pm.

TS POLYCET: Rescheduled from May 17 to May 24, the exam will last for two hours and 30 minutes, held from 11 am to 1:30 pm.

AP EAPCET 2024: Originally planned for May 13-19, will now occur from May 16-22.

UPSC Civil Services Exam 2024: Prelims moved to June 16 from the earlier schedule of May 26.

NEET PG 2024: Rescheduled to June 23, with results expected by July 15 and counselling for admissions scheduled from August 5 to October 15.

ICAI CA May Exams 2024: ICAI CA Intermediate Group 1 exams will be held on May 3, 5, and 9 instead of May 7, while Group 2 exams will take place on May 11, 15, and 17 instead of the original schedule of May 9, 11, and 13.