Cancellation of FTII Entrance Examination at Delhi Centre Due to Administrative and Security Failures
Introduction
The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) cancelled the 2026 Joint Entrance Test (JET) at the MD Indraprastha School centre in Delhi on Sunday following reports of administrative mismanagement and security breaches.
Main Body
The event involved approximately 300 candidates who reported significant operational failures. According to candidate testimonies, the process was characterized by malfunctioning biometric verification devices, inadequate staffing for attendance, and a lack of organized seating arrangements. Some candidates noted that their assigned rooms were occupied by another examination, resulting in prolonged delays and a lack of clear communication from center officials. Regarding the integrity of the examination materials, candidates alleged that question paper packets were received unsealed or torn, leading to concerns regarding a potential breach of confidentiality. These claims are compounded by reports that security protocols, such as frisking, were not implemented and that mobile phones were permitted within the examination area. Furthermore, center officials reportedly indicated a discrepancy in the number of question paper sets received. Conversely, the FTII administration, represented by Director Dhiraj Singh, attributed the cancellation to a law-and-order incident. The institute asserts that delays in paper distribution resulted in a group of candidates entering the secure storage room and engaging in physical altercations with staff, which led to the destruction of property. While the administration categorized the event as a security breach by the candidates, law enforcement officials noted that although they were deployed to maintain order, no formal criminal complaints were filed by either the institute or the students. Analytical interpretations of these events suggest a systemic failure in oversight by the FTII and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The divergence in narratives—where candidates cite administrative collapse as the catalyst and the institute cites candidate misconduct—indicates a significant dispute regarding the sequence of causality. The current lack of a definitive schedule for re-examination continues to leave the affected candidates in a state of professional uncertainty.
Conclusion
The FTII entrance exam in Delhi has been cancelled pending an investigation into the cause of the disruption, with candidates awaiting formal notification regarding the possibility and timing of a re-examination.