A DIGI-Exam System To control impersonation, multi-stage and multi-session testing, examination center allocation policy, setting up secure examination centers in every district and mobile examination centers in rural and remote areas are the recommendations made by the Centre’s high-level panel on examination reforms. . The report of the seven-member panel headed by former Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) chief R Radhakrishnan was released on Tuesday.
The panel noted that there is a strong case for shifting from pen-and-paper-based testing to computer-based testing (CBT) as the preferred method if there is network, testing infrastructure and competent manpower to reach underserved areas.
The panel recommended implementation of the DIGI-exam system on the pattern of DIGI-YATRA to ensure that only candidates appearing for the examination join the scheduled programme.
“Essentially, a multi-step verification of candidate’s identity is envisaged which uses Aadhaar and biometrics and AI-based data analytics,” it said.
The panel noted that the National Testing Agency (NTA) has expanded itself to accommodate various requests from multiple test indenting agencies to handle end-to-end test operations.
“NTA should primarily conduct entrance exams. After increasing the capacity of NTA, its scope for other exams can be considered,” the panel said in its report.
Suggesting restructuring of the NTA, the committee recommended 10 specific verticals at the directorate level. The verticals will be related to technology, production and operations, testing safety and monitoring.
“NTA needs to be managed with internal domain-specific human resources and a leadership team with domain expertise, proven experience and skill sets that should take over the testing process in future,” it said.
The committee also noted that the NTA should have a “powerful and accountable” governing body with three designated sub-committees to oversee trial audits, ethics and transparency; enrollment and staffing conditions; and stakeholder relationships.
“Multi-session testing, usually spanning a few days to two weeks, can be adopted, especially when registered participants exceed two hundred thousand. An integral part of multi-session testing is that the standards and methods of the normalization process must be well defined, established, documented and Every test is transparently communicated,” according to the report.
“A multi-stage test for NEET-UG (National Eligibility Lower Entrance Test-Undergraduate) may be a viable option that needs to be pursued. An acceptable format with thresholds of scores and rankings at each stage and test objectives, and number of attempts may be developed. ,” the panel said.
It recommended that the NTA aim to develop at least 1,000 safe standard test centers in reputed government institutions in a phased manner.
This process may require a “war-footing” approach, it noted.
“The committee envisages an examination center allocation policy that ideally candidates should get choice of examination center in their district of residence,” it said.
Trusted Question Bank, a safe and reliable testing platform that provides safe storage of question papers, establishing a secure Standard Test Center (STC) in each district and includes Mobile Test Centers (MTCs) to facilitate aspiring districts in rural, remote and remote areas. Recommendations made in the report.
“Normally, a large bus with a seating capacity of 40-50 persons can accommodate 30 examinees and its multiples can be deployed as per requirement. MTCs should be equipped with secure servers connected to the command centre,” it said.
Preparing a roadmap for test centres, the panel suggested that such test centers from Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, reputed universities and institutes would be possible to establish a nationwide network of 400-500 test centers within a year. or so, which will provide about 2-2.5 lakh testing capacity to conduct CBT in a single session nationwide.
The panel has also made some long-term recommendations, including integration and consolidation of examinations for undergraduate (UG) admissions, migration to Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT), transition to online mode for examinations and dealing with information security advancements, among others.
“A lot will be required to keep admissions at the UG level simple and uniform. Organizations coordinating examinations and admissions and institutions admitting candidates should discuss and develop simple and uniform eligibility and admission criteria (eg in terms of number of steps). Examinations, number of attempts, age limit, high cut-off for secondary marks, multi-session tests, number of years of test, test syllabus, and test mode), according to the panel report.
“It may not be easy to achieve the intended reconciliation in a one-step reform. However, it is possible to reconcile it at the right time as education in the country becomes truly multi-disciplinary,” he added.
In the line of fire of alleged irregularities in NEET-UG and PhD admission NET, the Center in July set up a panel by the NTA to ensure transparent, smooth and fair conduct of the examinations.
The panel noted that there is a strong case for shifting from pen-and-paper-based testing to computer-based testing (CBT) as the preferred method if there is network, testing infrastructure and competent manpower to reach underserved areas.
The panel recommended implementation of the DIGI-exam system on the pattern of DIGI-YATRA to ensure that only candidates appearing for the examination join the scheduled programme.
“Essentially, a multi-step verification of candidate’s identity is envisaged which uses Aadhaar and biometrics and AI-based data analytics,” it said.
The panel noted that the National Testing Agency (NTA) has expanded itself to accommodate various requests from multiple test indenting agencies to handle end-to-end test operations.
“NTA should primarily conduct entrance exams. After increasing the capacity of NTA, its scope for other exams can be considered,” the panel said in its report.
Suggesting restructuring of the NTA, the committee recommended 10 specific verticals at the directorate level. The verticals will be related to technology, production and operations, testing safety and monitoring.
“NTA needs to be managed with internal domain-specific human resources and a leadership team with domain expertise, proven experience and skill sets that should take over the testing process in future,” it said.
The committee also noted that the NTA should have a “powerful and accountable” governing body with three designated sub-committees to oversee trial audits, ethics and transparency; enrollment and staffing conditions; and stakeholder relationships.
“Multi-session testing, usually spanning a few days to two weeks, can be adopted, especially when registered participants exceed two hundred thousand. An integral part of multi-session testing is that the standards and methods of the normalization process must be well defined, established, documented and Every test is transparently communicated,” according to the report.
“A multi-stage test for NEET-UG (National Eligibility Lower Entrance Test-Undergraduate) may be a viable option that needs to be pursued. An acceptable format with thresholds of scores and rankings at each stage and test objectives, and number of attempts may be developed. ,” the panel said.
It recommended that the NTA aim to develop at least 1,000 safe standard test centers in reputed government institutions in a phased manner.
This process may require a “war-footing” approach, it noted.
“The committee envisages an examination center allocation policy that ideally candidates should get choice of examination center in their district of residence,” it said.
Trusted Question Bank, a safe and reliable testing platform that provides safe storage of question papers, establishing a secure Standard Test Center (STC) in each district and includes Mobile Test Centers (MTCs) to facilitate aspiring districts in rural, remote and remote areas. Recommendations made in the report.
“Normally, a large bus with a seating capacity of 40-50 persons can accommodate 30 examinees and its multiples can be deployed as per requirement. MTCs should be equipped with secure servers connected to the command centre,” it said.
Preparing a roadmap for test centres, the panel suggested that such test centers from Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, reputed universities and institutes would be possible to establish a nationwide network of 400-500 test centers within a year. or so, which will provide about 2-2.5 lakh testing capacity to conduct CBT in a single session nationwide.
The panel has also made some long-term recommendations, including integration and consolidation of examinations for undergraduate (UG) admissions, migration to Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT), transition to online mode for examinations and dealing with information security advancements, among others.
“A lot will be required to keep admissions at the UG level simple and uniform. Organizations coordinating examinations and admissions and institutions admitting candidates should discuss and develop simple and uniform eligibility and admission criteria (eg in terms of number of steps). Examinations, number of attempts, age limit, high cut-off for secondary marks, multi-session tests, number of years of test, test syllabus, and test mode), according to the panel report.
“It may not be easy to achieve the intended reconciliation in a one-step reform. However, it is possible to reconcile it at the right time as education in the country becomes truly multi-disciplinary,” he added.
In the line of fire of alleged irregularities in NEET-UG and PhD admission NET, the Center in July set up a panel by the NTA to ensure transparent, smooth and fair conduct of the examinations.