Lok Sabha Question No. 1000 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-29
Subject: Breach of Confidentiality of Exams by NTA
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Dr. M P Abdussamad Samadani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1000 ANSWERED ON 29.07.2024

## Breach of Confidentiality of Exams by NTA

1000.  DR. M P ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the breach of confidentiality affecting students during the conduct of various examinations by the National Testing Agency (NTA), if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  the  highest  standards  of confidentiality and integrity in the examination process and to improve the current processes and infrastructure of the NTA to enhance the overall examination experience for students; (c)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  inconvenience  faced  by  students  due  to  the allocation of distant and inaccessible testing centres by the National Testing Agency (NTA), if so, the details thereof; and (d)  the  measures  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  that  testing  centers  are
- conveniently located for all students, particularly those in rural and remote areas?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)

- (a)  to  (d)  NTA  was  established  in  2018  as  a  specialized  body  to  conduct  examinations  for entrance  to  Higher  Education  Institutions.  Since  its  inception,  NTA  has  conducted  over  240 examinations involving more than 5.4 crore students.

After  the  conduct  of  NEET(UG)  2024  Examination  in  May,  2024,  certain  cases  of  alleged irregularities/cheating/malpractices  were  reported.  The  Ministry  of  Education  asked  the  Central Bureau of Investigation to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the entire gamut of alleged irregularities  w.r.t.  the  NEET(UG)  2024  Examination.  The  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  in  WPC 335/2024  and  connected  matters,  in  Order  dated  July  23 rd ,  2024  has  said  that  'Ordering  the cancellation of the entire NEET(UG) 2024 Examination is not justified on the application of the settled tests which have been propounded in the decisions of this Court or on the basis of the data and material available in the record'.

The  UGC-NET June  2024  Examination  held  on  18.6.24  was  cancelled  after  receipt  of  certain inputs alleging that integrity of  the  examination may have been compromised. The matter was entrusted to CBI for thorough investigation.

To suggest effective measures for transparent, smooth and fair conduct of examinations by the NTA,  the  Ministry  of  Education  has  constituted  on  22.06.2024  a  seven  member  High-Level Committee of Experts, headed by Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, former Chairman ISRO and Chairman BoG, IIT Kanpur to make recommendations on Reforms in mechanism of examination process, Improvement in Data Security protocols and Structure and functioning of NTA. The mandate of the Committee includes analysis of end-to-end examination process, thorough review of standard operating Procedures/Protocols and  evaluation of existing data security protocols. The committee shall submit report in two months.

As a deterrence to unfair means in public examinations, the Central Government has enacted the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act 2024. This Act has come into force w.e.f. 21st June, 2024 and Rules have also been notified there under on 23rd June, 2024.

Centres  are  allotted  to  candidates  through  Computer  Software  as  per  City  preference  and availability of capacity in each centre. Efforts are made to allot centres in one of the city choices filled-in  by  the  candidates.  However,  when  the  number  of  candidates  is  very  large,  some candidates  may  not  be  accommodated  in  cities  opted  by  them.  In  such  cases,  NTA  tries  to accommodate them in nearby places. Also, whenever there is a shortfall of computer nodes in a particular  city,  wherever  possible  Higher  Education  Institutions  and  AICTE  affiliated  institutions are requested to provide their premises for conduct of examinations.

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