Many students in Meghalaya recently faced unexpected challenges after being assigned CUET (Common University Entrance Test) exam centres outside the state. Despite selecting centres in Meghalaya during the application process, several candidates were allotted centres in cities like Guwahati, Silchar, Aizawl, Dimapur, and even Kolkata.
This situation caused worry for many families, especially those living in rural areas. Travelling to another state for an exam involves long journeys, financial strain, and safety concerns—something not every student or parent can manage.
One student from West Garo Hills shared that she had chosen Shillong as her preferred exam location. However, her admit card showed a centre in Guwahati. “We don’t have relatives there. My father can’t take leave from work, and we can’t afford to stay in a hotel,” she said on the condition of anonymity. Her case is not the only one. Similar stories have been reported from across the state.
Student organisations, including the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), raised the issue publicly. They described the situation as unfair and demanded that the government ensure students are given centres within Meghalaya. The KSU also highlighted that this is not the first time students from the state have faced such difficulties during national exams like CUET and NEET.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on 11 May raised concerns over the allocation of CUET (UG) 2025 exam centres outside the state during a meeting with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in Delhi.
In a post on X, Sangma said he discussed the “issues faced by our youth regarding the allocation of exam centres in locations outside Meghalaya for CUET 2025” during his meeting at Pradhan’s residence. The meeting came a day after Sangma wrote to Pradhan about the “considerable anxiety” among students and parents in Meghalaya over the limited availability of exam centres within the state.
In his May 10 letter, Sangma highlighted the difficulties faced by students who had opted for centres within Meghalaya but were instead allotted far-off locations like Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Mizoram, Nagaland and even Kolkata.
“This development has placed an undue burden on many students, especially those from financially constrained backgrounds, who are now compelled to bear significant travel and accommodation costs. In many cases, these costs are beyond their means,” Sangma said in his letter.
He also warned that the situation had disrupted students’ academic preparation and could force some to forgo the examination altogether. “This situation has emerged despite repeated appeals and past assurances regarding the availability of sufficient centres within the state,” Sangma noted.
The Meghalaya chief minister urged Pradhan to direct the NTA, which conducts CUET for state and central university admissions, to review and reallocate CUET (UG) 2025 centres for Meghalaya candidates within the state.
On May 15, when the CUET exam was conducted at North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) in Shillong, students and parents complained about mismanagement. Some students stood in long queues for hours, waiting for verification. Others said they had trouble finding their assigned rooms and that proper guidance was missing. Rainy weather added to the difficulties for many.
A teacher who accompanied students to the NEHU centre said, “There was a lack of basic arrangements. Some students were panicking because they didn’t know what to do.”
Meghalaya’s Education Minister said the state government had offered to use multiple school campuses as exam centres to avoid such problems. However, the NTA chose only NEHU. He also mentioned a shortage of biometric machines at the Shillong centre, which led to delays.
Parents who came with their children to the exam centres said they expected better organisation for such an important national-level test. Many waited for hours, concerned about whether their children would be able to enter on time.
CUET is a centralised entrance test introduced by the Ministry of Education for admission to undergraduate programs in central universities and other participating institutions. It is meant to give students across the country equal opportunities. But in Meghalaya, this year’s exam experience has raised concerns about fairness and access.
As the CUET exam continues in phases across the country, students and parents in Meghalaya hope that future exams will be better planned. Many are calling for improved communication between the centre and state governments to avoid similar issues next year.
For now, students who were reassigned to Shillong are attending their exams, and others are still trying to find ways to reach their designated centres outside the state. The experience has been stressful for many, but families continue to support their children in hopes of a better future.
