While hearing the NEET exam leak case on Wednesday, the Supreme Court emphasized that the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts NEET and other exams, needs to be institutionalized and strengthened to avoid problems like question paper leaks.
The court directed the NTA to file a fresh affidavit
Recognizing the need to institutionalize examination reforms, the court directed the NTA to provide information about the steps taken to implement the recommendations of the Radhakrishnan Panel and the Nandan Nilekani Committee. The court directed the NTA to file a fresh affidavit in this regard.
Build an organization we can be proud of: SC
The Supreme Court remarked that it is our duty to ensure that the country has a dynamic institution that it can be proud of. If organizational structure is not created, experienced people are replaced and all experience is wasted.
Many technical changes will need to be made
Many technical changes will need to be made. However, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the NTA and the central government, told the court that meticulous arrangements have been made from preparing the question papers to printing them and delivering them to the students at the examination centre. He said that the system is perfect and it is not easy to break it.
There is a growing demand to replace the NTA.
These directions and observations were given by a bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe during the hearing of various petitions filed in the NEET paper leak case on Wednesday. The petitions have sought to replace the NTA or create an entirely new and more secure system.
Concerned about institutionalization
During the hearing, when Mehta was briefing the court about the foolproof system adopted, the bench raised concerns about the institutionalization of the examination system: secure office system, secret management structure, cyber security, etc. The court noted that the Radhakrishnan Committee had suggested the creation of 10 departments.
Information sought regarding the Committee’s recommendations
Examination Centres, Central Network Operators, etc. The committee said that infrastructure should be created for each of these. The process of sealing the question papers should be monitored by the Standing Committee. The court asked how many directors general, assistant directors general etc. have been appointed. The bench said it wanted to know this through a regular affidavit.
The bench said that the committee has suggested another thing, which really needs to be done, which is organizational memory, organizational skills. “We just have to see if all this is established. You have to have research and development (R&D) infrastructure. Every exam system changes, technology changes,” the court said.
Also questions on software and database
What software are you developing? The bench said there should be a sovereign database. What is a storage system? What are the infrastructure requirements? As for security, you should have a director-rank officer. Then you will know what the drawbacks are. A vibrant system and institutionalization is needed, the bench said. The court then ordered the submission of an affidavit detailing the steps taken to implement the recommendations of the Radhakrishnan Committee. The hearing will now take place in three weeks.
Recommendation of Radhakrishnan Committee
It may be noted that after the NEET UG paper leak, the Ministry of Education constituted a seven-member Radhakrishnan Committee to improve the examination process, improve data security protocols and make suggestions on the structure and functioning of the National Testing Agency. The Radhakrishnan Committee gave its recommendations. Subsequently, the government also constituted a high-level task force headed by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani to improve the NEET exam framework.