Chennai, Jan 7 (Reporter) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin on Tuesday urged Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to reschedule the UGC-NET Examinations scheduled for January 13-16 as it coincides with the traditional Pongal festival in the State. In a Demi-Official letter to Mr Pradhan, copies of which were released to the media here, he said there was a real need for rescheduling the UGC NET Examinations and other Examinations to appropriate dates, thereby ensuring that students and scholars of Tamil Nadu and other States where the Harvest Festival is celebrated can appear for the examinations. "Data shows that the National Testing Agency (NTA) never conducted UGC-NET Examination during Pongal festival season in the previous years", Mr Stalin said. "In the circumstances, I, request your immediate intervention to reschedule the UGC NET Examinations and other Examinations proposed to be held on January 13-16 to any other later dates. The Chief Minister said "I wish to bring an important issue to your immediate attention. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has issued a public notice on December 19, 2024 stating that the UGC–NET December 2024 Exam will be held from January 3, 2025 to January 16, 2025, including on January 14. Since January 14 is the day on which the most important festival of Tamil Nadu, Pongal is celebrated this year, Tamil Nadu Minister for Higher Education had written to the Union Education Minister on December 23,2024 stating that this festival is a very important event in Tamil Nadu and celebrated as the Harvest Festival by all sections of the Tamil community. Mr Stalin said every year, this festival is celebrated for four days from January 13 to 16. These dates are well known to all in this State in advance and the entire Tamil community celebrates the four days’ Pongal festival with fervor. The Tamil Nadu Government have already declared January 14 to 17 as Government holidays for this Festival. Pongal, celebrated as the Harvest Festival of Tamil Nadu, is not just a festival, but total embodiment of Tamil Culture and Traditional heritage that spans over 3000 years. It has also been pointed out that similar to the Pongal Festival, the Makar Sankranthi Festival is celebrated in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana States also. Therefore, if the proposed NET Exam is held during the Pongal holidays as scheduled, it will put a large number of candidates into hardship. "I am given to understand that the Chartered Accountants foundation examination, January 2025 has already been rescheduled for the same reason", Mr Stalin said. Hence, I consider that there is a real need for rescheduling the UGC NET Examinations and other Examinations to appropriate dates, thereby ensuring that students and scholars of Tamil Nadu and other States where the Harvest Festival is celebrated can appear for the examinations. "In the circumstances, I, request your immediate intervention to reschedule the UGC NET Examinations and other Examinations proposed to be held on January 13-16 to any other later dates", he said...////...