Can technology help prevent paper leaks? Find out everything here.

Can Technology Stop Paper Leaks? Following protests by the ‘Cockroach Janata Party,’ the government has begun taking a stricter stance on paper leaks. Amidst this, the question arises: can technology prevent paper leaks?

Can Technology Stop Paper Leaks? Over the past 12 years, approximately 150 state and national-level exam papers have been leaked across the country, affecting millions of candidates. Recently, following protests by the ‘Cockroach Janata Party,’ the government announced several measures to curb paper leaks. A task force led by Nandan Nilekani has been constituted, and the government is also introducing new legislation. Meanwhile, questions are being raised about whether technology can provide a solution to this problem. Let us explore the technologies that can be employed to prevent paper leaks and determine if they can offer a complete solution.

How can technology help?

Cyber ​​experts believe that technology can significantly mitigate this problem. Technologies such as robust security architecture, biometric authentication, secure cloud infrastructure, and blockchain-based record management can help prevent fraud and unauthorized access. However, a challenge remains: while technology can block unauthorized access, it cannot prevent individuals involved in the process from intentionally misusing information they possess.

Technologies that can be used:

Encrypted Digital Question Papers: There is always a risk of a question paper leaking during the transit from the printing stage to the examination center. To counter this, encrypted question papers can be utilized. These papers remain fully encrypted until the exam begins. Multiple authorization checks can be made mandatory to decrypt them, thereby significantly reducing the likelihood of a paper leak. Tech-Assisted Paper Generation: Technology can be utilized to set question papers. An AI system can randomly select questions from a question bank, ensuring that each student receives the questions in a different sequence.

This helps prevent organized cheating.

Biometric Verification: Biometric verification is already mandatory for several exams and can be adopted for others as well. It can be made compulsory at every stage—from registration and entry into the exam center to the counseling process. This helps prevent fraud and creates an identity trail for the entire admission process.

AI Monitoring: Advanced AI systems now exist that can not only monitor activities in real-time but also detect irregularities. AI systems can be deployed to track coordinated movements and any unusual activity within the exam center. They can also monitor and detect unauthorized access to the system.

Digital Audit Trail: This method allows for logging every instance of access to the question paper. A digital record can be created detailing who accessed the paper, as well as when and from where it was accessed. Consequently, should an incident like a paper leak occur, it would be easier to identify the culprit.

Will the problem of paper leaks be completely eliminated?

Despite the availability of advanced technology today, it cannot be claimed that technology alone will completely eradicate the issue of paper leaks from the current system. Experts believe that human involvement remains essential at various stages—from setting and approving the paper to evaluating answer sheets—and technology cannot entirely replace this role. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras and a member of the task force on paper leaks, states that no matter how much technology is employed, the trustworthiness of the individuals setting and approving the papers remains paramount.