Industrial-Scale Cheating in Exams Requires Urgent Action
India has a widespread and serious issue with cheating, using unfair means and paper leaks during academic exams. This unethical behavior negatively impacts honest hardworking students and erodes the credibility of the entire evaluation system.
The incidents of brazen cheating using new techniques like Bluetooth devices, organized gangs stealing question papers and mass-scale leaks have increased over the years. For instance, the Vyapam scam unveiled unimaginably high levels of leaks, bribes and fraudulent admissions. Similarly, papers for important entrance tests are frequently leaked, most recently the SSC exam leaked on WhatsApp groups.
In response to the alarming growth in exam fraud across educational levels, the Indian government has proposed the National Examination Agency Act. This comprehensive bill aims not just to set up the National Testing Agency (NTA) but also to overhaul the assessment system. It seeks to implement standardized foolproof protocols for conducting secure exams nationwide. Most importantly, by significantly enhancing punishments for offences related to cheating and leakage, the anti-cheating law aims to serve as a robust deterrent once enforced. Harsher penalties and streamlined surveillance promise to curb the menace.
Centralized Agency for Improved Governance
The key rationale behind establishing NTA is centralization for better control and governance. By bringing high-stakes entrance examinations like JEE, NEET, NET, and CMAT under one specialized body, administration can be standardized. This centralized agency will define stringent guidelines for registration, test centres, invigilators, and evaluations – running all aspects of exam conduction. Biometric attendance, surveillance cameras, jammers and randomization of questions are some of the strict protocols proposed. These measures promise to tackle threats, reduce human interference and improve transparency.
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Accountability at All Levels
One of the highlights of the bill is addressing the lack of accountability that enables cheating rackets currently. The Act recommends disciplinary action against officials found involved in deliberate negligence or active enabling of fraudulent activities during exams. Stringent debarment, financial penalties and demotion for erring personnel across authorities, test centres aim to improve vigilance of the system.
By assigning clear responsibilities and punitive measures, complicity due to complacency, and corruption, complicity can be deterred within the system. This accountability at the administration level combined with enhanced security protocols promises to make leaks extremely difficult during exam conduction.
Rampant exam frauds have eroded India’s assessment credibility and impacted generations of youth for far too long. The National Examination Agency Act promises to address this critical challenge. It aims to restore public faith by overhauling the governance, administration and security of high-stake entrance tests via a dedicated agency with robust surveillance systems and stringent punitive actions.
Timely and effective enforcement of this much-needed Act will help reinstate the sanctity of educational assessments across the Indian education sector.
