UGC NET 2026 Faces Fresh Allegations of Question Repetition and AI-Generated Papers
The National Testing Agency (NTA) is once again under scrutiny, this time over the UGC NET 2026 examinations. Candidates have raised serious concerns, claiming that a significant portion of the English paper was recycled from previous years. Simultaneously, allegations have emerged that the Sociology paper was drafted using artificial intelligence, further intensifying the debate around the credibility of the examination process.
Allegations of Repeated Questions in the English Paper
Social media platforms are abuzz with claims that the English paper, which contained 150 questions, included as many as 67 questions that were nearly identical to those asked in the 2024 examination. This has led to widespread frustration among aspirants who believe that such repetition undermines the fairness and integrity of the selection process. Candidates have pointed out that while Paper 1 consists of 50 questions on reasoning and general awareness, common to all test-takers, Paper 2 is subject-specific and contains 100 questions. The alleged duplication in this subject-specific section has become a major point of contention.
Sociology Paper Reportedly Prepared with AI Assistance
In a separate but equally troubling development, a PhD scholar took to social media to accuse the NTA of using artificial intelligence to prepare the Sociology paper. According to the complaint, the questions were sourced from obscure thinkers and books that have no relevance to the prescribed syllabus. The scholar further alleged that nearly half of the questions contained glaring spelling errors, making it difficult for students to interpret them correctly.
Serious Errors in Spelling and Grammar
The criticism did not stop at content selection. Detailed posts highlighted severe grammatical and typographical mistakes throughout the Sociology paper. For instance, prominent names were misspelled, with errors such as writing “Putzer” instead of “Ritzer,” “oval” instead of “social,” “Parsow” instead of “Parsons,” and “Ghunye” instead of “Ghurye.” Other examples included “A K Desai” in place of “A R Desai” and “Nusbaut” instead of “Nussbaum.” Candidates argued that the quality of the Hindi translation was equally poor, comparing it to the work of a young child. If students cannot even understand the questions, they questioned, how can they be expected to provide accurate answers?
Growing Concerns Over Examination Integrity
These latest allegations come at a time when the NTA is already facing intense criticism over previous incidents related to paper leaks in other competitive exams. The recurring nature of such controversies has led to growing doubts about the agency’s ability to conduct large-scale examinations transparently and efficiently. As of now, the NTA has not issued an official response to the accusations regarding the UGC NET 2026 papers. Candidates and education experts alike are waiting to see whether the agency will address these concerns or remain silent in the face of mounting pressure.
