Over 150 candidates who came from across West Bengal to the Webel IT Park on Taratala Road in southwest Kolkata to write the online CSIR-UGC NET tests could not write the papers because of server-related glitches.
The fiasco was almost a rerun of what hundreds of students had encountered last month while taking the Central University Entrance Test (CUET). Sources in the National Testing Agency, tasked with conducting the CSIR-NET tests, said glitches like the one at the Taratala venue were reported from several centres across the country and the agency was planning to hold a retest.
The same agency was tasked with conducting CUET.
The tests for two papers — earth science and physical science — were scheduled from 9am to noon on Friday.
“We were told the server was down. The problem continued for two hours, at least,” said Rwik Dharmpal Banerjee, a candidate.
Pallab Mahato, one of the affected candidates, had come from Purulia district by train to take the test. He reached Howrah station on Thursday evening and stayed at Purulia Bhavan in Salt Lake.
“The snag was frustrating. More frustrating was the response. No one seemed to know when the test would start,” said Mahato, who was to write the earth sciences paper.
Mostafizur Rahman, 27, had come from Malda district. He reached Kolkata by train on Thursday and put up at a hostel in Santoshpur, not far from the exam venue.
“Someone should be held accountable. We are running from pillar to post to find the right person to share our concern,” said Rahman, who was to write the physical science test.
An official at the centre said 154 candidates were supposed to take the test in the first half. “Glitches were reported from several centres across the country. The tests in the second half, from 3pm, was held without any interruption,” he said.
The candidates who crack the CSIR-UGC NET test can evaluate their eligibility for junior research fellowships (JRF) for pursuing PhD and lectureship/assistant professorship in colleges.
