Behind the long wait for NEET-UG exam to go online, Pg11

Key Highlights:

• Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced that the NEET-UG exam will transition to a computer-based test (CBT) from next year.
• The decision follows the cancellation of the NEET-UG exam held on May 3 for over 22 lakh candidates.
• A committee headed by former ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan recommended the shift to CBT in its 2024 report to enhance security and reduce potential leakages.
• The National Testing Agency (NTA) can currently conduct CBT for approximately 1.5 lakh candidates in a single shift, posing logistical challenges for an exam like NEET-UG.

Detailed Insights:

• The shift to CBT aims to address vulnerabilities associated with pen-and-paper tests, such as potential leakages during printing, packing, transporting, and storing papers.
• Concerns about unequal access to computers among disadvantaged groups, score normalization across multiple sessions, and inadequate testing infrastructure had previously stalled the transition to CBT for NEET-UG.
• The K Radhakrishnan committee suggested establishing at least one secure CBT center in each district, potentially utilizing government schools, and state and central universities to create a network of 400-500 testing centers.
• Exams like JEE (Main), JEE (Advanced), CUET-UG, and UGC-NET are already conducted as CBTs, but CUET-UG and UGC-NET have faced issues like computer glitches and paper leaks, highlighting the challenges in ensuring secure online testing.
• Score normalization in multi-session tests involves generating a "percentile score" based on the relative performance of candidates in a single shift, ensuring fairness across different question paper sets.
• The NTA will need to ensure robust security protocols at both private and government CBT centers to prevent cybercrime and maintain the integrity of the NEET-UG exam.

Key Concepts Involved:

• NEET-UG: National Eligibility cum Entrance Test - Undergraduate, a national-level entrance exam for admission to undergraduate medical courses in India.
• Computer-Based Test (CBT): An exam conducted using computers, where candidates answer questions on a computer terminal.
• Normalization: A process used to ensure fair scoring in multi-session tests by adjusting scores based on the relative performance of candidates in each session.
• National Testing Agency (NTA): An agency responsible for conducting various entrance exams in India, including NEET-UG, JEE, CUET, and UGC-NET.