The National Testing Agency (NTA) is set to conduct the UGC NET December 2024 cycle exams from January 3 to 16, 2025. However, concerns have arisen regarding the exams scheduled for January 15 and 16, which coincide with Pongal celebrations in Tamil Nadu. DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi has urged Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to reconsider the dates, emphasizing the importance of respecting Tamil Nadu’s cultural traditions.
MP Kanimozhi Calls for Revised UGC NET Exam Schedule
In a letter shared on the social media platform X, Kanimozhi criticized the overlap of the exam dates with Pongal. She wrote:
Pongal, celebrated from January 13 to 16, is Tamil Nadu’s harvest festival, comprising four days—Bhogi Pongal, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal, and Kaanum Pongal—each carrying unique significance. In northern India, the festival is observed as Makar Sankranti, marking the sun’s transition northward according to the Hindu calendar.
