Srinagar, Jan 24: Hundreds of candidates from Kashmir Valley may have to forego the upcoming C-MAT exams as bad weather conditions have made travelling to Jammu, where the test centres have been established, nearly impossible.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) had designated the exam centres for Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) in Jammu which is likely to cost the aspirants their opportunity to appear in the exams in view of the inclement weather and closure of Srinagar-Jammu highway.
As per a notification, the exam will be conducted by NTA on January 28 in two shifts: 9.30 am to 12.30 pm and 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm.
NTA is conducting the CMAT exams for the first time this year. Earlier, AICTE conducted the test.
The aggrieved aspirants blamed the exam conducting body for step-motherly treatment to Kashmiri students.
“Why our exam centres can’t be set up in the valley. Our centres can be set up in KU, IUST or any colleges of Srinagar,” said one of the aspirants.
The candidates are in a fix as the Srinagar-Jammu highway remained closed for the vehicular movement for the third straight day while as air-fares have been also hiked. “We cannot afford costly air tickets and accommodation in Jammu,” another aspirant said.
Earlier, scores of NET aspirants missed the exams as they couldn’t leave Valley due to inclement weather.
Recently, Kashmiri candidates set to appear in the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) had also demanded that their exam centres should be set up within the Valley.
The demand was put forth owing to the inclement weather which results in frequent closure of Jammu-Srinagar highway. Even though a letter was sent to the office of Chief Secretary from the office of Divisional Commissioner but the issue is yet to be resolved, leaving candidates in despair.
GATE is an all-India examination administered and conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and seven Indian Institutes of Technology on behalf of the National Coordinating Board – GATE, Department of Education in Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD).
