Prof D Mukherjee
NEET 2024 was held on May 5, 2024 and its results were announced on June4, 2024. More than 24 lakhs medical career aspirants appeared for NEET these years against the 55648 seats in Government Colleges and Institutions and 55685 in private medical colleges and universities across. On the other hand, UGC -NET is Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship in universities qualifying examinations held twice a year-June and December. UGC NET questions papers are reported to have been leaked and the NEET 2024 irregularity is well known almost to every stratum of the civil society. The recent scandal surrounding the National Testing Agency’s (NTA) medical entrance examination, the results of which were declared on June 4, 2024, has once again brought to the fore the critical issue of transparency and integrity in the higher education examination system in India. According to sources, the NEET 2024 candidates were provided with the leaked question paper along with the answers for a price of INR 30-32 lakhs which has sparked outrage and calls for the cancellation of NEET -UG 2024 and protests erupted across the nation. TheHonourable Supreme Court of India has taken a stern stance, asserting that even a 0.001% flaw in the system will not be tolerated and that those found guilty will face severe consequences. This scandal has reignited the debate over the efficacy of the centralized entrance examination system, with many quarters of civil society advocating for its abolition in favour of the older, decentralized model. Against this backdrop, it is imperative to explore feasible solutions that ensure justice and fairness for students while creating a robust, transparent system within higher education management.
The centralized entrance examination system, administered by the NTA, was designed to standardize the process of admissions to prestigious medical colleges across India. However, the recent scandal has exposed significant vulnerabilities, including allegations of question paper leaks, impersonation, and tampering with results. These issues have not only undermined the credibility of the NTA but have also led to immense stress and uncertainty for students who have dedicated years to preparing for these exams.To prevent malpractices, the NTA must adopt state-of-the-art security protocols. This includes the use of biometric verification, AI-based surveillance, and secure transmission of question papers. Additionally, multiple sets of question papers should be prepared to counteract leaks.The entire evaluation process should be made transparent, with provisions for students to access their answer sheets and the grading criteria. This can help build trust in the system and allow students to challenge discrepancies through a well-defined grievance redressal mechanism.Leveraging blockchain technology for maintaining exam records can ensure tamper-proof documentation. Additionally, AI algorithms can be employed to detect anomalies in exam patterns and results, further ensuring the integrity of the process. Periodic audits by independent bodies can help identify and rectify procedural flaws. An oversight committee comprising education experts, legal professionals, and student representatives can ensure that the examination process adheres to the highest standards of fairness and transparency.
Legal accountability and consequence of any sort of negligence cannot be bypassed. Those found guilty of malpractices should face strict legal consequences to serve as a deterrent. The judiciary has a crucial role in setting precedents that prioritize the integrity of the education system. Fast-tracking cases related to examination fraud and imposing stringent penalties, including imprisonment and fines, can help uphold the law and restore faith in the system.
India herself has several highly reputed and respected professional bodies and institutions who have silently emerged to be the trend and benchmark setter in holding flawless competitive examinations. Institutions such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI) and the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) have been conducting qualifying examinations for Chartered Accountants (CAs), Cost and Management Accountants (CMAs), and Company Secretaries (CSs) for over 75 years. These examinations are held twice a year and are known for their rigor and integrity, both domestically and internationally. Despite being some of the toughest professional examinations, these institutions have managed to avoid major system failures, maintaining the secrecy, robustness and security of examination processes.These institutions have established a robust system of examination management, which includes secure printing and distribution of question papers, use of encrypted digital platforms, and stringent invigilation protocols. The NTA can adopt similar measures to enhance the security of its examination processes. The ICAI, ICMAI, and ICSI conduct examinations not only in India but also in multiple overseas centres. It is worth mentioning that about 12 lakhs, 7 lakhs and 5 lakhs are students are on rollof ICAI, ICMAI and ICSI respectively and these professional bodies hold examination once every six months. They have developed standardized procedures to ensure consistency and fairness across all locations. This global operational model, which emphasizes local oversight and strict adherence to protocols, can serve as a blueprint for the NTA. These professional bodies continuously monitor their examination processes and incorporate feedback to improve their systems. Regular training for invigilators, auditors, and administrative staff helps in maintaining high standards. The NTA can benefit from implementing a similar feedback loop to ensure continuous improvement and adaptation to new challenges.Ensuring transparency in the evaluation process and being accountable to stakeholders is a hallmark of these professional institutions. The NTA can replicate these practices by providing students with access to their evaluated answer sheets and setting up independent review committees to address grievances.
While the NEET-2024 scandals have highlighted significant flaws, it is important to recognize the inherent advantages of a centralized entrance examination system. Centralization provides a uniform standard of assessment across the country, ensuring that all students are evaluated on an equal footing. This system reduces regional biases and offers a streamlined process for college admissions, which is particularly crucial in a country as diverse and populous as India.Going back to the old decentralized system would imply setting the clock backward, reintroducing inconsistencies and regional disparities in the admission process. Instead, the focus should be on making the NTA more robust and flawless and build a system characterized by transparency, security, and fairness.
Under the given circumstances, it suggests for comprehensive reforms in the medical entrance examination system and any other competitive examinations such as UGC-NET etc administered by the NTA. By implementing enhanced security measures, decentralized examination centres, transparent evaluation processes, and leveraging technology, India can develop a flawless examination system that ensures justice and fairness for all students. Drawing lessons from the long-standing and successful examination practices of ICAI, ICMAI, and ICSI, the NTA can establish a system characterized by integrity and transparency. Furthermore, strict legal accountability for those found negligent or guilty of malpractices is essential to maintain the integrity of the system. Through these measures, the higher education management system in India can evolve to meet the highest standards of fairness, transparency, and efficiency, thereby securing the future of its students. NTA needs structural reforms and more specifically, computer-based testing system, randomizations and adaptive testing techniques perhaps can be of high assistance to restore the sanctity and robustness of holding challenging examinations such as NEET and NET. AI needs to be used to cent percent extent in order to maintain healthy examination environment. It needs mention the reference of the globally practised benchmark of GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) and TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)/ILTES (International English Language Testing System)/PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English Academic)/GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) etc for adoption by the NTA as hardly there is any occasion when these globally administered qualifying testing systems have failed to deliver. It is the need of the hour to plug the NTA’s failures ranging in between CUET-JEE, NEET and UGC- NET that has obviously the note of interrogation on the integrity, sanctity, and administrative competency of the National Testing Agency. Further, awarding grace mark in any examination is not a healthy practice and needs avoidance.
(The author is a Bangalore based Educationist and Management Scientist.)
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