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Pema Khandu Urges Centre to Set Up CUET 2026 Centres Inside Arunachal

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has formally urged the Union Government to allot Common University Entrance Test (CUET) 2026 centres within the state. In a letter to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, he highlighted the geographical challenges and travel hardships faced by students. Khandu proposed four new district headquarters as centres and assured full logistical support to the NTA. The state government has previously raised the issue at different levels, including by P D Sona and Education Commissioner Amjad Tak.

Key Points: Pema Khandu Seeks CUET 2026 Centres in Arunachal Pradesh

  • CM Pema Khandu writes to Union Education Minister
  • Students face hardship due to faraway exam centres
  • State offers logistical support to NTA
  • Four new district headquarters proposed as centres
3 min read

Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu urges Centre to allot CUET 2026 centres within state

Arunachal CM Pema Khandu writes to Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, urging CUET 2026 centres within state to ease travel hardship for students.

"The state government remains committed to ensuring that students from the state receive equal opportunities and necessary support - Pema Khandu"

Itanagar, May 7

In a significant initiative aimed at safeguarding the interests of students from Arunachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Pema Khandu has formally taken up with the Union Government the issue relating to allotment of examination centres for the Common University Entrance Test 2026 outside the state.

In a letter addressed to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Khandu expressed serious concern over reports that a large number of students from Arunachal Pradesh have been allotted examination centres in other states, often at faraway locations, causing immense inconvenience and hardship to candidates and their families.

Highlighting the unique geographical challenges of Arunachal Pradesh, Khandu pointed out that difficult terrain, limited connectivity and underdeveloped transport infrastructure make long-distance travel extremely challenging for students appearing in national-level examinations.

He stated that such circumstances not only impose financial burdens on families but also adversely affect the mental and physical well-being of students, potentially impacting their examination performance.

The Chief Minister urged the Union Minister to reconsider the allocation of examination centres and ensure that adequate CUET centres are established within Arunachal Pradesh, or at least at nearby accessible locations, so that students can appear for the examination without undue hardship.

Reaffirming the state government's commitment to supporting national examinations, Khandu informed the Union Minister that Arunachal Pradesh had recently conducted the NEET Examination 2026 smoothly and successfully at multiple locations across the state.

He assured that the state government is fully prepared to extend all necessary logistical support to the National Testing Agency (NTA) for conducting CUET examinations at convenient locations within Arunachal Pradesh.

The Chief Minister also highlighted that the matter had already been taken up at different levels by the state government.

He noted that P D Sona had earlier written to the Ministry of Education requesting the inclusion of four additional district headquarters - Pasighat, Bomdila, Tezu and Aalo - as CUET examination centres for the convenience of students. In addition, the issue has also been actively pursued by Education Commissioner Amjad Tak with the concerned authorities.

Emphasising the importance of equitable access to higher education opportunities, Khandu appealed for compassionate and pragmatic intervention from the Union Ministry in the larger interest of students from the state.

He expressed confidence that the Government of India would take a positive decision to ease the difficulties faced by aspiring students of Arunachal Pradesh.

"The state government remains committed to ensuring that students from the state receive equal opportunities and necessary support in accessing national-level educational platforms and competitive examinations," the Chief Minister added.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
This is a genuine issue. I have a cousin from Tawang who had to travel to Guwahati for NEET last year - the journey took 3 days! The financial burden on families is huge, not to mention the stress on young students. Pema Khandu ji's demand is very reasonable. The NTA should coordinate with state education departments to ensure last-mile accessibility.
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Rohit L
Good initiative by CM Khandu ji. But I am slightly skeptical - will the NTA actually set up centres in remote locations? In my home state of UP, many rural students still don't get centres in their districts. Hope this doesn't become just another letter that gets ignored. The education ministry needs to walk the talk on "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas".
S
Sneha F
Finally someone is raising this voice! I am from Itanagar and even for us, getting a centre is a struggle, forget students from places like Anjaw or Changlang. The government should also consider online proctored exams for remote areas as an alternative. Digital infrastructure in Arunachal has improved a lot in recent years. Let's think out of the box! 🌟
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David E
As an outsider looking in, this seems like a very reasonable request. If Arunachal can successfully conduct NEET, there's no reason CUET can't be held there. The NTA should leverage the existing infrastructure and learn from the state's successful NEET experience. It's not just about convenience - it's about ensuring equal opportunity for every Indian student, regardless of geography.
K
Karthik V

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