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Parliamentary sheet recommends pen-and-paper format to amended reliability successful nationalist exams
The parliamentary lasting committee connected education, women, children, younker and sports has recommended a stronger absorption connected pen-and-paper exams for large nationalist tests, highlighting recurring disruptions successful computer-based examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The committee, chaired by Congress MP Digvijaya Singh, reviewed the security, medication and fiscal functioning of the NTA successful a elaborate study tabled successful Parliament.The study assessed 14 competitory examinations conducted by the NTA successful 2024 and noted that astatine slightest 5 faced important issues. UGC-NET, CSIR-NET and NEET-PG were postponed, portion NEET-UG faced instances of insubstantial leaks, and CUET (UG/PG) results were deferred. In aboriginal 2025, the study stated that successful JEE (Main) 2025 held successful January, astatine slightest 12 questions had to beryllium withdrawn owed to errors successful the last reply key.Pen-and-paper exams and computer-based testingThe committee examined some pen-and-paper and computer-based trial (CBT) formats.
It recovered that pen-and-paper exams “offer much opportunities for insubstantial leaks,” whereas CBTs “can beryllium hacked successful a mode that is hard to detect.” Despite these concerns, the committee recommended a stronger absorption connected pen-and-paper exams, citing the proven reliability of CBSE and UPSC systems. It further advised that CBTs, erstwhile conducted, should lone instrumentality spot successful authorities oregon government-controlled centres and “never successful backstage centres.
”Issues with vendors and administrationThe study highlighted ongoing problems with backstage vendors progressive successful insubstantial setting, medication and correction. Several firms blacklisted by definite organisations oregon authorities governments continued to unafraid contracts elsewhere. The committee stated that “such blacklisted firms indispensable not beryllium engaged for immoderate entranceway trial by the NTA oregon the authorities governments.” It recommended creating a nationwide blacklist of firms and associated individuals to forestall repeated engagement successful exam-related malpractices.Financial reappraisal and capacity-buildingOver six years, the NTA collected an estimated Rs 3,512.98 crore and spent Rs 3,064.77 crore, leaving a surplus of Rs 448 crore. The committee suggested this corpus could beryllium utilized to fortify the agency’s capabilities to behaviour tests independently, heighten regulatory oversight, and amended monitoring of vendors. Funding could besides enactment amended information measures for some pen-and-paper and computer-based exams.
Impacts of pen-and-paper exams
| Impact area | Details |
| Improved reliability and integrity | Reduces risks of hacking and method glitches successful CBTs; minimises errors successful last reply keys (e.g., JEE Main 2025). |
| Security considerations | Paper leaks stay imaginable but manageable with strict handling, aggregate question versions, and unafraid transport; blacklisted vendors prevented from aboriginal involvement. |
| Student experience | Familiar format reduces method anxiousness and surface fatigue; provides a much predictable and unchangeable exam environment. |
| Administrative and fiscal implications | Requires printing, unafraid transport, invigilation, and manual evaluation; NTA’s surplus funds (Rs 448 crore) tin enactment capacity-building and oversight. |
| Alignment with schoolhouse program and coaching reforms | Can enactment with hybrid appraisal models combining committee marks and aptitude testing; supports earlier exams (Class XI) and reduced coaching hours. |
| Policy and structural impacts | Government-controlled centres recommended; strengthened regulatory oversight and monitoring needed for creaseless conduct. |
| Long-term credibility | Restores spot successful exams similar JEE, NEET, and CUET; whitethorn standardise investigating and power coaching practices. |
Implications for students and schoolhouse curriculumA abstracted cardinal sheet has projected reforms to trim students’ dependence connected coaching centres. It is considering conducting nationalist exams specified arsenic JEE, NEET and CUET arsenic aboriginal arsenic Class XI. The program aims to easiness world unit successful Class XII and bounds regular coaching hours to 2 oregon three, down from 5 to six successful galore backstage centres.Officials said a hybrid appraisal exemplary could harvester committee marks with aptitude-based testing, strengthening schoolroom learning and interior assessments portion reducing coaching reliance.
NCERT has been tasked with coordinating with CBSE and authorities boards to comparison Class XI and XII syllabi with entranceway exam requirements, aiming to align schoolhouse curricula and minimise disparities.Logistical challenges and exam conductTransitioning to pen-and-paper exams volition necessitate accrued logistical efforts, including printing, unafraid transportation, invigilation, and manual evaluation. Despite these demands, pen-and-paper tests are expected to trim method errors, reply cardinal issues and cyber vulnerabilities.
Government-controlled centres and robust vendor oversight are considered indispensable to palmy implementation.While the parliamentary committee did not mandate a afloat instrumentality to pen-and-paper testing, its recommendations emphasise the format arsenic a reliable alternative. The determination connected whether exams specified arsenic JEE Main, CUET and UGC NET volition revert to pen-and-paper volition beryllium connected the government’s effect and implementation of the committee’s findings.
