CUET begins today but there's no end to all the confusion

Students in India went through hell trying to keep up with their studies during the pandemic. Online classes, the uncertainty of the situation, schools opening and closing at whim, derailed hundreds of thousands of students' dreams and chances at success. Add to the mayhem, the UGC (University Grants Commission) introduced the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for UG admissions into public, private, and deemed-to-be universities for higher education. 

Current news: 

1. The first set of exams begins today, July 15, 2022. The second phase will be held in August. 
2. 8,10,000 students are appearing for the exams in Phase 1. 
3. 44 central universities, 12 state universities, 11 deemed universities, and 19 private universities are adopting the CUET for UG admissions in the 2022-23 academic session.

Courses under CUET: Students appearing for CUET are seeking admissions for UG courses in Science, Commerce, Humanities, and Vocational streams. Students are mostly BSc, BA (Hons), BVoc, BCom (Hons), BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration), BBA LLB (H), Diploma in Pharmacy (D), BCA (Bachelor of Computer Application), etc. aspirants. 

Controversy: The "one country, one entrance examination" model has been criticised by many people. Some of the arguments state: 

1. CUET will render XII board exams irrelevant. There's confusion about how universities will screen applicants and how the CUET grading system will work. 
2. Critics also say that CUET will further the coaching culture, which only the rich will be able to afford, making it difficult for poorer students to compete. The UGC chairman does not agree.  
3. Tamil Nadu Education Minister K Ponmudy had also criticised the move saying that it will adversely affect the opportunities for students who studied from state board and who aspire to enroll in central universities. 
4. But the problems don't end here. Reports say that some students received their admit cards on July 14, 2022, only to find out that their exams are on the very next day and required travelling.
5. Others reported that the venue, time, date, subject, and several other details about the examination were completely missing from the admit cards.
6. For some, their payment for the exams didn't go through, resulting in them having to take a gap year. 
7. On the brighter side, some students said they had already secured admissions in some colleges and weren't stressed about the exams. 

For those who had a hard time keeping up with online classes, CUET comes as a double whammy.