Panel recommends major reforms for entrance exams to enhance security with efficiency
A seven-member committee led by former ISRO chief Dr. K. Radhakrishnan has submitted key recommendations to the Education Ministry to overhaul the administration of national entrance exams, following the recent NEET paper leak. The panel, constituted to review exam security protocols and the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA), has proposed several reforms aimed at streamlining operations and minimizing the risk of future leaks.
The committee’s recommendations include introducing hybrid exam models, conducting multi-stage NEET exams, rationalizing subject choices for the Central University Entrance Test (CUET), and strengthening the NTA’s staffing with more permanent personnel.
The panel suggests delivering question papers digitally to examination centers, while students mark their answers on OMR sheets. This hybrid approach would reduce the number of people handling the papers, a crucial step given that the NEET-UG paper leak in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, reportedly occurred due to improper handling at a private exam center. The digital transmission of question papers closer to the exam time would also eliminate reliance on printing presses and storage in strong rooms, enhancing security.
The panel recommends maximizing the use of online exams where possible, while discouraging the involvement of private service providers to maintain control over exam administration. It suggests expanding government-owned exam centers and employing more permanent NTA personnel to reduce dependency on outsourced staff.
The report advocates for limiting the number of subjects in CUET to ease the burden on students and maintain security. Currently, CUET allows candidates to appear in up to six subjects, increasing logistical complexity and security risks. The panel questions the need for science students to reappear in the same subjects already covered in board exams and suggests CUET focus on general aptitude with some subject-specific knowledge.
Given the large number of medical aspirants—nearly 20 lakh registered for NEET-UG this year—the panel has recommended conducting NEET in multiple stages, similar to the two-tier Joint Entrance Exam (JEE). It has also proposed capping the number of NEET attempts to prevent misuse of the open-attempt policy.
The Radhakrishnan committee emphasizes the need for greater government control over exams by increasing the number of in-house centers and reducing reliance on private institutions. It also recommends recruiting more permanent staff to the NTA, which currently operates with a heavy reliance on contractual employees.
The expert panel, in addition to Dr. Radhakrishnan, includes prominent members such as former AIIMS Director Dr. Randeep Guleria, Hyderabad Central University Vice-Chancellor B.J. Rao, IIT Madras Professor Emeritus Ramamurthy K, Karmayogi Bharat Board Member Pankaj Bansal, IIT Delhi Professor Aditya Mittal, and Education Ministry Joint Secretary Govind Jaiswal.
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Kerala reels under heavy rains; IMD issues red alert in three districts
Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 26 (PTI): Heavy rains since Friday night have caused widespread damage across several parts of Kerala, raising water levels in rivers and dams and uprooting trees, which resulted in one death and injuries to several persons.
It also prompted the India Meteorological Department, on Saturday evening, to upgrade its rain alert status in Ernakulam, Idukki, and Thrissur districts from 'orange' to 'red'.
It also issued an 'orange alert' for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts, and a 'yellow alert' for the remaining three.
A 'red alert' indicates "heavy to extremely heavy" rainfall of over 20 cm in 24 hours. An 'orange alert' denotes "very heavy" rainfall of 11 to 20 cm, while a 'yellow alert' signals "heavy rain" between 6 and 11 cm.
The IMD said rains are likely to persist over the next five days, accompanied by strong winds reaching speeds of 50-60 kmph till Sunday.
Fishing has been advised against along the Kerala-Karnataka-Lakshadweep coasts until July 30 due to rough seas and strong winds.
In Kozhikode, overnight rains and strong winds uprooted trees and caused extensive damage to houses and vehicles, prompting shifting of several families to safer places. However, no one was injured.
Power lines and electric poles were brought down, disrupting supply in many parts of the district.
Similar incidents were reported from Kottayam, Palakkad, and Kannur districts.
In Kannur, one person died when a tree fell on his house. In similar incidents in the district, few others were injured.
In Kottayam, besides the damage to homes due to uprooted trees, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) suffered a loss of Rs 2.43 crore due to several electric poles and power cables being brought down by the strong winds and rain in the district on Friday and Saturday.
In Kuttanad and Upper Kuttanad regions of Alappuzha district, the heavy rains resulted in inundation of several low-lying areas, including roads and homes, and rise in river waters to dangerous levels.
With water levels rising in their catchment areas, shutters of the Banasura Sagar dam in Wayanad, the Aliyar dam in Palakkad and Kakkayam Dam in Kozhikode district have been raised to release excess water.
Residents living downstream have been advised to stay vigilant.
The Irrigation Design and Research Board (IDRB) and Central Water Commission (CWC) have issued alerts for several rivers that have "risen dangerously", including the Manimala, Achankovil, and Pamba rivers in Pathanamthitta; Vamanapuram in Thiruvananthapuram; Pallikkal in Kollam, Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam and Thodupuzha in Idukki.
People residing along riverbanks have been urged to exercise caution and avoid entering or crossing the water bodies.
Meanwhile, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has warned of possible sea surges and high waves reaching 2.8 to 3.4 metres along the Kasaragod and Alappuzha coasts till 8.30 pm on Sunday.
Fishermen and coastal residents have been advised to remain alert, it added.
