Even before the 18th Lok Sabha had convened and the new government had assumed office, a massive controversy erupted around two major entrance examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) — the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), a standardised exam conducted for students seeking admission to undergraduate medical courses (MBBS/BDS) and some postgraduate courses (MD/MS) in both government and private medical colleges, and the UGC-NET (NET) or National Eligibility Test which determines the eligibility of Indian nationals for roles as assistant professors and junior research fellows in universities and colleges across the country. The UGC-NET also serves as a qualification test for those seeking admission to PhD programmes. While the NEET-UG exam, conducted on May 5, has been marred by allegations of irregularities including claims of discretionary grace marking, cheating and impersonation, the NET exam conducted on June 18 was cancelled the next day as there were reports of the paper being leaked 48 hours ahead of the exam and sold on the dark web and encrypted social media platforms.

The impasse on both these exams has caused serious concerns and disappointment to lakhs of deserving candidates and their parents. The NTA, despite its autonomous functioning for conducting entrance examinations for higher educational institutions, is now under a severe cloud despite the removal of its head by the Centre. A seven-member high-level committee of experts under K Radhakrishnan, former chairman of ISRO and Chairman Board of Governors, IIT Kanpur has been set up by the Centre to “provide recommendations on reform in the mechanism of the examination process, improvement in data security protocols and structure and functioning of NTA”. A CBI probe is also on. Both these could offer guidance for the future path. However, it might take a lot for the system to regain the trust of the young.

Link: https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/ai-and-blockchain-technology-can-only-be-one-part-of-a-holistic-approach-to-check-exam-leakage-9425799/