Arunachal CM Urges Centre to Set Up More CUET 2026 Exam Centres Within State -

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Itanagar, May 7: In a major move aimed at protecting the interests of students from Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu has urged the Union Government to address the issue of allotment of examination centres for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) 2026 outside the state.

In a letter to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the Chief Minister expressed serious concern over reports that many students from Arunachal Pradesh have been assigned examination centres in distant states, causing significant inconvenience and hardship to candidates and their families.

Highlighting the state’s difficult geographical conditions, Khandu noted that Arunachal Pradesh faces challenges such as rugged terrain, poor connectivity and limited transport infrastructure, making long-distance travel difficult for students appearing in national-level examinations. He said the situation places an additional financial burden on families and may negatively affect the mental and physical well-being of students, ultimately impacting their performance in the examination.

The Chief Minister appealed to the Union Ministry of Education to reconsider the allocation process and ensure that adequate CUET examination centres are established within Arunachal Pradesh or at nearby accessible locations to ease difficulties faced by students.

Reaffirming the preparedness of the state government, Khandu informed the Union Minister that the state had recently conducted the NEET 2026 examination smoothly at multiple locations across Arunachal Pradesh. He assured that the state government is ready to provide all necessary logistical support to the National Testing Agency (NTA) for conducting CUET examinations within the state.

Khandu also stated that the matter has already been pursued at different levels by the state government. He mentioned that P D Sona had earlier written to the Ministry of Education seeking inclusion of four additional district headquarters — Pasighat, Bomdila, Tezu and Aalo — as CUET examination centres for the convenience of students. The issue has also been actively followed up by Education Commissioner Amjad Tak with the concerned authorities.

Emphasizing the importance of equitable access to higher education opportunities, the Chief Minister called for compassionate and practical intervention from the Union Government in the larger interest of students from the state.

“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,” Khandu said.