NEET UG Exam System ‘Foolproof’: Centre Tells Supreme Court Security Is Difficult to Breach

New Delhi: An important hearing was held in the Supreme Court on Wednesday regarding the reform of NEET-UG examination system and National Testing Agency (NTA). The central government told the court that the security system now in place for conducting the medical entrance examination is monitored at many levels, from preparing the question paper to delivering it to the examination centre. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the government, described the existing system as 'foolproof' and said that it is very difficult to break into it. 

What has been changed in the process of preparing question paper?

The government told the court that the help of many moderators is taken to prepare the question papers of NEET. Each moderator is asked to prepare a different set of questions. The special thing is that even the question preparers do not know which questions will be included in the final examination. In this way, an effort has been made to reduce the possibility of leaks even before the question paper is prepared. 

How is the final question paper selected?

According to the Centre, different moderators prepare four question papers. Out of these, two sets are selected for the examination and the final selection takes place at the level of Director General of NTA. Its purpose is that no one involved in the process of preparing the question paper should know in advance which paper the students are going to face. 

How is the security once you reach the printing press?

The government said that the selected question papers are sent to two different printing presses in sealed envelopes. There is CCTV surveillance and CISF security. During printing, entry of outsiders is prohibited and the entire process is videographed. The government claims that even the person working in the printing press does not know the question paper of which exam he is preparing.

What arrangements are there to keep the examination papers safe in transit?

The Supreme Court was told that GPS is installed in the vehicles carrying question papers. With this, the activity of the vehicle can be continuously monitored and even its smallest movements are recorded. The government described this as one of the major steps taken for the security of the question paper. 

Then why did the Supreme Court ask for answers from NTA?

Despite the Centre's claims regarding security arrangements, the Supreme Court has sought information from the NTA about the steps taken on examination reforms. The court has been asked to file a new affidavit on the progress made in implementing the recommendations of Radhakrishnan Committee and Nandan Nilekani Committee. The court's emphasis is that the reforms should not be limited to papers only, but they should be made a permanent part of the examination system.

What is the role of Radhakrishnan and Nilekani committees?

Radhakrishnan Committee was formed to improve the examination system after the irregularities that had come to light earlier in NEET. This committee had given suggestions related to changes in the examination process, data security and functioning of NTA. Apart from this, a high-level committee was also formed under the chairmanship of Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, whose objective was to work on technical and structural reforms in the examination system.

What concerns did the court express regarding the examination system?

The Supreme Court said during the hearing that there is a need to institutionalise the examination reforms. The indication of the court's comment was that despite having a strong system on paper, a problem arising during an examination can raise questions on the entire system. Therefore, it is necessary to make reforms a part of the permanent system.

Will the old system in NEET be completely changed?

At present it cannot be said that the entire system of examination has been changed. The centre has informed the court about the security measures taken in the existing system, while the NTA has to give a detailed account of the steps taken on the recommendations of the committees. In such a situation, it will become clear in the further hearing which reforms in the examination system have been implemented permanently and which changes are still in the works.