Will JEE Fundamental and CUET Transition to Pen-and-Paper Format Primarily based on Panel Suggestions?

Will main NTA exams like JEE Fundamental, CUET and UGC NET return to pen-and-paper after robust parliamentary panel suggestions?

A parliamentary standing committee on schooling, girls, youngsters, youth and sports activities has submitted an in depth report inspecting the functioning of the Nationwide Testing Company (NTA) and the recurring disruptions in its main entrance examinations. The report, tabled in Parliament and chaired by Congress MP Digvijaya Singh, critiques the efficiency of the exam-conducting physique and assesses whether or not a return to pen-and-paper testing would enhance reliability and integrity.The committee acknowledged that the report evaluates the safety, administration and monetary functioning of the NTA, whereas recommending structural reforms to stop examination irregularities. It additionally considers fashions utilized by CBSE and UPSC as examples of leak-proof programs that might information future NTA processes.Panel flags disruptions in a number of nationwide entrance examinationsThe committee famous that the NTA performed 14 aggressive examinations in 2024 and acknowledged that “at the least 5 confronted main points,” as quoted by TNN. It noticed that three examinations — UGC-NET, CSIR-NET and NEET-PG — have been postponed, NEET-UG recorded situations of paper leaks, and the outcomes of CUET (UG/PG) have been deferred.In early 2025, issues continued. The report acknowledged that “in JEE (Fundamental) 2025, held in Jan, at the least 12 questions needed to be withdrawn because of errors within the last reply key,” quoted by TNN.Committee highlights safety dangers throughout examination codecsThe panel analysed each pen-and-paper and computer-based check (CBT) codecs. It recorded that pen-and-paper exams “supply extra alternatives for paper leaks,” whereas CBTs “will be hacked in a way that’s tough to detect,” quoted by TNN. Regardless of these issues, the committee really useful a stronger give attention to pen-and-paper exams as a result of confirmed reliability of CBSE and UPSC programs.It suggested that CBTs, when performed, ought to solely be held in authorities or government-controlled centres and “by no means in personal centres,” quoted by ET On-line.Suggestions for strict vendor oversight and blacklist creationThe committee highlighted points with personal distributors concerned in paper setting, administration and correction. It famous that a number of companies blacklisted by sure organisations or state governments continued to safe contracts elsewhere. The panel acknowledged that “such blacklisted companies should not be engaged for any entrance check by the NTA or the state governments,” quoted by ET On-line.It really useful compiling a nationwide blacklist of companies and related people to stop repeated involvement in exam-related malpractices.Monetary assessment suggests capacity-building for the NTAThe report famous that the NTA collected an estimated Rs 3,512.98 crore and spent Rs 3,064.77 crore over six years, leaving a surplus of Rs 448 crore. The committee stated this corpus “ought to be used to construct the company’s capabilities to conduct exams itself, or to strengthen regulatory and monitoring capabilities for its distributors,” quoted by ET On-line.Will main exams shift again to pen-and-paper?Whereas the committee didn’t mandate the shift, its suggestions strongly emphasise adopting pen-and-paper codecs utilized by CBSE and UPSC. Whether or not main NTA exams corresponding to JEE Fundamental, CUET and UGC NET will revert to this mode will rely on the federal government’s response to the committee’s findings and the implementation steps taken within the coming months.