In a bid to fortify the integrity of the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE)-Main 2024, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has introduced stringent security measures, including frisking and biometric attendance after toilet breaks, for all candidates. This move comes in response to previous incidents of cheating and is aimed at ensuring a cheat-safe environment during the engineering entrance examination.
NTA Director Subodh Kumar Singh emphasized that the additional security measures are designed to eliminate any potential use of unfair means or proxy attendance. The screening process, which already includes thorough checks at the entry point and biometric attendance recording, will now extend to cover officials, observers, staff members, and even those serving refreshments.:
The heightened security measures follow incidents from the JEE Advanced 2023 exam where five students were caught cheating, using smartphones within the exam centers. Two students were found taking screenshots of questions and sharing them through WhatsApp. The individuals involved faced legal consequences, with cases registered against them under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Telangana Public Examination (Prevention of Malpractice and Unfair Means) Act.
The move to intensify security measures is not unprecedented. In 2022, a Russian national, Mikhail Shargin, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for allegedly hacking the JEE Main 2021 examination software and aiding 820 students in cheating. This incident highlighted the need for proactive measures to ensure the sanctity of the examination process.
NTA Director Subodh Kumar Singh mentioned that the extended security measures would likely be implemented in other exams in the future, signifying a broader commitment to maintaining the integrity of various competitive examinations.
The JEE-Main 2024 is the screening test for admissions to centrally-funded technical institutions such as NITs and IIITs. The top 20% of the merit list becomes eligible to sit for the JEE (Advanced), the entrance test for Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). The exam will be conducted in 13 languages, and the Computer Based Test (CBT) is scheduled from January 24 to February 1, with results expected on February 12. The NTA has received a record 12.3 lakh registrations for the exam, reflecting the significance and competitiveness of the engineering entrance test.
The introduction of enhanced security measures for the JEE-Main 2024 underscores the commitment of the NTA to curb cheating and maintain the credibility of the examination process. As technology evolves, so do the challenges of ensuring a cheat-safe environment, and these measures aim to stay ahead of such challenges while upholding the fairness and transparency of the engineering entrance examination.