TAG: GS 2: GOVERNANCE
THE CONTEXT: In response to the recent controversies surrounding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and UGC-NET, the Ministry of Education has constituted a high-level committee to reform the working of the National Testing Agency (NTA).
EXPLANATION:
- The committee, which convened its first meeting on June 24 in New Delhi, aims to establish robust processes to prevent irregularities in entrance examinations.
- The NTA has faced significant scrutiny following the paper leak controversy in the NEET for medical undergraduates.
- Additionally, the UGC-NET exams were scrapped due to integrity issues.
- These incidents have raised concerns about the security and transparency of the examination processes conducted by the NTA.
Composition of the Reform Committee
- The seven-member committee is chaired by K. Radhakrishnan, former Chairman of ISRO and Chairman of the Board of Governors at IIT-Kanpur. Other notable members include:
- Former Director of AIIMS Delhi
- Vice-Chancellor of Central University of Hyderabad
- Professor Emeritus at the Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras
- Co-Founder of People Strong and Board Member of Karmayogi Bharat
- Dean of Student Affairs at IIT Delhi
- Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Education, who will serve as the Member
Expertise of Committee Members
- The committee members bring extensive experience in academic and examination processes.
- For instance, K. Ramamurthy has been associated with conducting the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) from 2004 to 2006, and K. Radhakrishnan has deep knowledge of the IIT system and examination methodologies.
Objectives and Mandate of the Committee
- The committee’s primary objective is to develop a comprehensive manual to ensure data security and prevent question paper leaks.
- This includes:
- Establishing a data security protocol
- Examining the printing processes of question papers
- Onboarding and training staff to adhere to secure processes
- Minimizing external participation in the examination process
- The committee is considering adding a data security vertical within the NTA’s organizational structure to enhance transparency and security.
- This restructuring is aimed at addressing the root causes of past security breaches and ensuring robust preventive measures.
Examination Modes and Infrastructure
- The committee is also evaluating different modes of conducting examinations.
- Currently, JEE (Mains) and JEE (Advanced) are conducted online using computer-based tests, while NEET-UG is conducted in a pen-paper Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) mode.
- NEET-UG sees participation from up to 24 lakh students in a single sitting, highlighting the logistical challenges of transitioning to an online format.
- India’s current infrastructure cannot support computer-based online tests for more than three lakh students simultaneously.
- This limitation necessitates careful consideration of feasible examination modes.
Measures to Prevent Paper Leaks
- The committee is exploring measures to prevent paper leaks, including restricting public interactions of professors involved in setting exam papers.
- For example, in the case of JEE, professors are prohibited from giving public science talks until the exams are completed.
- Similar restrictions may be applied to other examinations to maintain the integrity of the paper-setting process.
National Testing Agency
- The National Testing Agency (NTA) is an autonomous agency under the Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education of India.
- It was established in November 2017 to conduct entrance examination admissions and recruitment.
- The NTA is responsible for conducting numerous national-level exams for admission and fellowship in higher educational institutions related to engineering, medicine, management and pharmacy.
