DelhiL: SFI stages 'Chalo NTA' protest, demands independent probe into UGC-NET lapses

New Delhi, Jul 6 (PTI) Members of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) on Monday staged a protest near the National Testing Agency (NTA) office in Delhi over alleged irregularities in the UGC-NET June 2026 examination, with the student organisation claiming several of its leaders were detained by the Delhi Police. The protest, held under the banner of "Chalo NTA", saw students attempting to march to the NTA office to submit a memorandum demanding the scrapping of the agency and an independent inquiry into the alleged lapses in the examination. The SFI alleged that its Delhi state president Sooraj Elamon, state joint secretary Mehina Fathima, state vice-president Arif Siddiqui, and state committee members Sakhi, Anil and Sohan were among those detained during the protest. In a statement, the organisation alleged that police physically assaulted and detained protesters instead of allowing them to carry out a peaceful demonstration. The student body said its demands stemmed from alleged irregularities in the UGC-NET June 2026 examination, including the cancellation of the examination at a centre in Jalandhar due to technical issues, repetition of questions across multiple subjects, spelling and factual errors, and allegations that some questions were generated using artificial intelligence. The SFI reiterated its demand for the scrapping of the NTA, an independent inquiry into the alleged irregularities, and accountability for those responsible. Delhi Police denied the allegations of use of force. "The police were simply there to maintain law and order. No brutal force was used," an officer said. In a separate statement, the SFI's Central Executive Committee also condemned the suspension of the Instagram account of its Delhi State Committee, calling it an attempt to silence the student movement. The organisation asserted that its activities would continue despite the suspension, adding that its work extended beyond social media through student mobilisation on campuses and public campaigns. PTI AHD AHD MPL MPL