Aspirants cry anomalies in Barkatullah University online PhD test

BHOPAL: Controversies marred the PhD entrance test conducted online by Barkatullah University (BU) on Wednesday with several students alleging out-of-syllabus questions, different language and changed subjects. Candidates have filed a complaint with governor Lalji Tandon.
Even a member of BU’s Board of Studies, which prepared the syllabus, supported students and raised the issue with higher authorities.
BU has been conducting online admission for almost six years. However, the varsity does not have enough computers and related infrastructure to conduct online entrance exam. As a result, the university conducted the online entrance test for PhD at six private colleges on Wednesday.
A student said, “The way exam was conducted, it seems the varsity was not prepared. Despite reaching the exam centre on time, students were not allowed to enter and questions were out of syllabus.”
It was the first time, BU conducted online exam for PhD aspirants. On August 6, BU had issued the notification of holding entrance test for life sciences on August 21. A university official said UGS has made it mandatory to conduct an online entrance for PhD.
Even the member of Board of Studies, who prepared the syllabus, admitted that out-of-syllabus questions were asked. “It is true that several questions were not from the syllabus. I will talk to higher authorities. This is a loss for students,” said Arun Pandey.
Candidates alleged that they were not allowed to appear in the exam at a few centres. A candidate said, “I had been preparing for the entrance test for past two years. But, they have robbed me of opportunity. I had reached the centre at 1.45 pm while the exam was supposed to start from 2 pm. I have filed a complaint against BU to Governor Lalji Tandon.”
Some other students too could not appear for the exam while some others alleged that they had seen a few students entering the exam hall even after 2 pm. “Why were some students were allowed to enter the exam hall so late,” asked a student.
BU registrar Ajit Shrivastava said students had met him. “We will check the CCTV footage. Proper inquiry would be done. Action will be taken against the guilty,” said Shrivastava. When asked about conducting the exam again, he said, “I can’t take the decision. A committee will decide on it.”