Thiruvananthapuram, March 27: V.D. Satheesan, the leader of the opposition in the Kerala Assembly, has written to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, requesting a change in the dates for the National Testing Agency (NTA) entrance exams scheduled for April 2 and April 5.
In his letter dated March 24, Satheesan highlighted that these dates coincide with significant religious observances for the Christian community. April 2 marks ‘Maundy Thursday’ (Pesach), and April 5 is ‘Easter Sunday,’ both of which are among the holiest days in Christianity.
He stated, “Conducting major examinations on these dates will force Christian students to choose between their academic commitments and religious duties. This could infringe upon the spirit of religious freedom and minority rights.”
Satheesan urged the central government to direct the NTA to reschedule these exams to a later date. He suggested that they be held after April 15, following Kerala’s major festival, ‘Vishu.’
In his letter, Satheesan emphasized that the national examination agency should consider the country’s religious and cultural diversity. He insisted that the exam schedule should take into account the major festivals and rituals of various religions to avoid unnecessary inconvenience for any community.
The senior Kerala Congress leader also asserted that all citizens have the right to pursue their religious beliefs and academic careers without compromise, in line with constitutional values.
This appeal comes at a time when the NTA is busy preparing for various competitive exams. The Christian community in Kerala has a significant population, and large religious events are organized during Easter.
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