JEE, NEET, and CUET: Will the JEE, NEET and CUET exams now be conducted in pen and paper mode? know..
JEE, NEET, and CUET in Pen and Paper Mode: The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the country's most important entrance examinations, is once again under scrutiny. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education has expressed serious concerns regarding the examinations conducted by the NTA in 2024. The committee clearly stated that the NTA's performance this year has not been "reassuring." In light of this, the committee has recommended a return to a pen-and-paper-based system alongside online examinations to enhance the transparency and security of the exams.
Irregularities in Several Exams in 2024
The report of this parliamentary committee, chaired by Congress MP Digvijay Singh, states that at least 5 out of the 14 major examinations conducted by the NTA in 2024 were mired in controversy. UGC-NET, CSIR-NET, and NEET-PG had to be postponed for various reasons, paper leaks were reported in NEET-UG, and the CUET (UG/PG) results were not released on time. According to the committee, such recurring irregularities are eroding the trust of students and parents in the entire system.
Errors in JEE Main 2025 Answer Key
The report also mentions the JEE Main examination held in January 2025. The committee noted that at least 12 questions had to be removed from the final answer key because they were found to be incorrect. The committee stated that such errors could have been detected at the initial stages of examination preparation, but this did not happen. This raises questions about the quality and preparation of the examination.
Recommendation to Return to Pen-Paper Exams
The committee also discussed the examination system in detail. The report states that while pen-and-paper examinations carry the risk of paper leaks, computer-based tests (CBT) are susceptible to hacking. Despite this, the committee considered the models used by institutions like the CBSE board and UPSC to be more secure and reliable. The committee recommended that the NTA should also move towards adopting these models. CBT exams should only be conducted at government centers
If computer-based tests (CBTs) are necessary, the committee has clearly stated that they should only be conducted at government-controlled centers. Conducting exams at private centers increases several security risks, and therefore, this practice should be completely stopped.
Demand for a nationwide ban on companies involved in malpractice
The committee also expressed concern that several companies, which were previously blacklisted by some states or institutions due to irregularities in paper setting, exam conduct, and evaluation, are still securing contracts elsewhere. The committee recommended that a nationwide blacklist be created for all such companies and their associated individuals, so that they cannot participate in any entrance examination again.
Scrutiny of NTA's multi-crore surplus
The report also details the income and expenditure of the NTA. According to the committee, in the last six years, the NTA earned approximately ₹3512.9 crore, while spending ₹3064.7 crore. This leaves a surplus of approximately ₹448 crore. The committee suggested that this amount should be used to strengthen the NTA's internal capabilities, improve security systems, and ensure strict monitoring of the examination process.
Concern over increasing reliance on coaching centers
The committee also stated that the increasing reliance of students on private coaching for entrance examinations is a serious social and educational concern. Therefore, the committee suggested that examinations should be more closely aligned with the school curriculum and studies, so that students do not have to rely solely on coaching. It also recommended the formation of a task force to consider a regulatory framework for coaching institutions.
Restoring student trust is a major challenge.
At the end of the report, the committee clearly stated that repeated irregularities have damaged the credibility of the country's examination system. The biggest challenge now is for the NTA to implement quick and concrete reforms in its functioning so that students' trust in the system can be restored in the future and their future is not jeopardized due to any technical or administrative negligence.
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