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Informist, Friday, Aug 2, 2024

 

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court today said that the National Testing Agency must avoid "flip-flops" it made in relation to the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) exam and the Centre should rectify the issues which arose in the exam this year itself so that it is not repeated. The top court was giving a detailed order on why it refused to cancel the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) exam and order a re-examination.

 

"We have said that NTA (National Testing Agency) must now avoid the flip-flops which have happened now because it does not serve well. These issues such as the rear door being kept open in strong room etc...Then granting compensatory marks...Then grace marks which led to 44(students) getting 720/720...We have highlighted all errors of NTA and thus the committee (by government) should identify and rectify these," said the Bench led by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud. 

 

The court was hearing a batch of petitions seeking cancellation of the entire medical entrance test exam, re-test for a fair-and-secure exam, and investigation into the alleged irregularities in this year's entrance test. On Jul 23, the court said that directing a fresh medical entrance test for the present year would be replete with serious consequences for over 2.4 mln students who appeared in the exam. 

 

The court had noted that the government had also formed a seven-member expert committee to propose exam reforms and review the operations of the National Testing Agency. Today, the top court expanded the remit of the committee to also evaluate mechanisms to ensure rigorous checks from making question papers to checking them, streamlining a standard operating procedure to check handling, storage of question papers. 

 

Further, the committee should look to enhance identity checks at various stages, technological innovations to check impersonation, and take into account privacy law, said the court. The aim is to deter and detect any malpractice and the viability of using closed vehicles with real-time locks rather than open e-rickshaws to be considered for ferrying the question papers, said the court.

 

The court said the committee shall recommend robust grievance redressal mechanisms and suggest data protection protocols so that all sensitive information is protected. The committee shall recommend plans for mental health support programmes for students and also assess the psychological impact on students, said the court. The committee should consider the viability of training of the testing agency members, examiners, and staff so that all are equipped to well handle the integrity of the exam, it added.

 

The court asked the committee to prepare a report regarding this by Sep 30. The education ministry should formulate a programme to be implemented in a month and then inform the court of the development after two weeks of the said decision, it added. 

 

The petitioners had moved the apex court after allegations of paper leaks and potential malpractices during the medical entrance test exam held on May 5. The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for undergraduate students was taken by 2.3 mln people across 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 cities overseas. The entrance test was for admission to undergraduate medical education at all medical institutions.  End

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Manisha Baxla

 

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