NEW DELHI: In a move that could spare lakhs of students long journeys for entrance examinations, the education ministry has initiated an exercise to create a nationwide pool of standardised examination centres, with the aim of having at least one in every district. The plan also envisages backup centres nearby to deal with last-minute disruptions. In a parallel move, the National Testing Agency (NTA) is creating a permanent pool of independent observers, including retired armed forces and paramilitary personnel, as part of a wider overhaul of the examination system following repeated security breaches and disruptions.
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The twin initiatives are aimed at addressing two persistent problems – inadequate examination infrastructure and the shortage of trained personnel to supervise high-stakes tests. NTA, which conducts examinations in more than 500 cities, has invited applications from educational institutions and testing service providers across the country to expand its network for both computer-based tests (CBT) and pen-and-paper examinations. Govt is considering shifting NEET-UG from pen-and-paper mode to CBT.Under the Nov-7 notification, a standard CBT centre must have at least 285 functional computer workstations per shift, including buffer capacity, while a pen-and-paper centre must be able to accommodate at least 250 candidates. Smaller CBT centres can be considered in locations where testing facilities are limited.