Ahead of the high stakes NEET-UG 2025 examination on May 4, the Centre is front driving with a series of steps from setting up test centres at "secure" locations to deploying state government machinery to every test centre, bringing in additional virtual observers, AI surveillance and more to prevent a recurrence of the exam leak fiasco of 2024.
Not leaving the mega exam to the National Testing Authority ( NTA) alone, the ministries of education, health and home affairs are working closely with state governments to ensure a 'leak-proof' exam this time, ET has learnt.
ET gathers that the Union Home Secretary will soon be reviewing with all state chief secretaries and state DGPs to take stock of the ground situation ahead of the exam that determines admission to all medical colleges in the country. Over 23 lakh students are expected to appear for NEET-UG 2025. The home secretary also held a review meeting with all states on March 1 to assess state-level preparedness for the conduct of the medical exam. The activation of district-level committees is key to the Centre's 'Secure Test Administration Apparatus' plan for NEET-UG 2025 -- to ensure a tight security net at the test centre.
TEST CENTRES
States have been asked to ensure that the state police force is deputed across all test centres for supervision and security. They will also be involved in the frisking mechanisms at each test centre besides ensuring additional surveillance during transport of the question papers to the test centres.
Control centres are also being set up and activated in each district to supervise on the exam day.
NEET-UG 2025 will also see a revamped test centre system with nearly 95% test centres in government institutions this year from Kendriya Vidyalayas to Navodaya vidyalayas and government colleges. This time, greater scrutiny has been brought in before selecting and verification of test centres -- an exercise done through 'institutional linkage' with state/district authorities.
DISTRICT WATCH
Test centres have been selected and verified only after due inputs are received from the District Level Coordination Committee, as recommended by the K Radhakrishnan-led high level committee set up in the aftermath of the 2024 leak case.
A high degree of surveillance is also envisaged for each test centre. Ground-level observers apart, the number of 'virtual observers' has been increased for NEET UG 2025.
While one virtual observer, with access to CCTV feed, watched over 20-25 exam centres until last year, this year there will be one virtual overseer for every ten exam centres.
He will be assisted through deployment of AI which will scan the CCTV feed for any suspicious or abnormal activity from odd movement/gestures to strange or long non-movement of both- students and invigilators.
NTA has earlier used AI surveillance in some of the Computer Based Tests but this time, it will be deploying it for the pen-and-paper based NEET-UG as well.
Not leaving the mega exam to the National Testing Authority ( NTA) alone, the ministries of education, health and home affairs are working closely with state governments to ensure a 'leak-proof' exam this time, ET has learnt.
ET gathers that the Union Home Secretary will soon be reviewing with all state chief secretaries and state DGPs to take stock of the ground situation ahead of the exam that determines admission to all medical colleges in the country. Over 23 lakh students are expected to appear for NEET-UG 2025. The home secretary also held a review meeting with all states on March 1 to assess state-level preparedness for the conduct of the medical exam. The activation of district-level committees is key to the Centre's 'Secure Test Administration Apparatus' plan for NEET-UG 2025 -- to ensure a tight security net at the test centre.
TEST CENTRES
States have been asked to ensure that the state police force is deputed across all test centres for supervision and security. They will also be involved in the frisking mechanisms at each test centre besides ensuring additional surveillance during transport of the question papers to the test centres.
Control centres are also being set up and activated in each district to supervise on the exam day.
NEET-UG 2025 will also see a revamped test centre system with nearly 95% test centres in government institutions this year from Kendriya Vidyalayas to Navodaya vidyalayas and government colleges. This time, greater scrutiny has been brought in before selecting and verification of test centres -- an exercise done through 'institutional linkage' with state/district authorities.
DISTRICT WATCH
Test centres have been selected and verified only after due inputs are received from the District Level Coordination Committee, as recommended by the K Radhakrishnan-led high level committee set up in the aftermath of the 2024 leak case.
A high degree of surveillance is also envisaged for each test centre. Ground-level observers apart, the number of 'virtual observers' has been increased for NEET UG 2025.
While one virtual observer, with access to CCTV feed, watched over 20-25 exam centres until last year, this year there will be one virtual overseer for every ten exam centres.
He will be assisted through deployment of AI which will scan the CCTV feed for any suspicious or abnormal activity from odd movement/gestures to strange or long non-movement of both- students and invigilators.
NTA has earlier used AI surveillance in some of the Computer Based Tests but this time, it will be deploying it for the pen-and-paper based NEET-UG as well.
You may also like
'I will be 2000 percent behind him': Vasseur defends Hamilton after Saudi GP struggles
Nick Faldo sums up feelings on Rory McIlroy with comment on greatest ever players
Which cardinals are seen as contenders to be next pope?
Numerology: Children Born with Destiny Number 5 Are Naturally Rich and Smart, Here's Why They're Blessed by Goddess Lakshmi
Prince Harry and Kate Middleton broken by 'arguments, broadsides and betrayal'
