Election-Style Entrance Exam: In a significant move to bolster the security and transparency of national entrance examinations, a committee led by former ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan, convened by the Ministry of Education, has proposed a framework inspired by the methodology used in general elections. This approach is aimed at mitigating the operational and security challenges currently plaguing exams like NEET, CUET, and UGC-NET, while enhancing their efficiency and reliability.

Background and Rationale

The seven-member expert panel was constituted in June following widespread criticism of the National Testing Agency (NTA) over security lapses, including the NEET-UG paper leak. In its October report, the committee outlined measures to address these concerns, suggesting a collaborative model that integrates the central and state governments in the examination process, mirroring the electoral system’s dependence on district and state-level administrative machinery.

Key highlights of the proposal include appointing presiding officers at testing centers, stringent sealing and surveillance protocols, and state and district-level administrative involvement in exam logistics.

Proposed Election-Style Framework: How Will It Work?

Appointment of Presiding Officers

• Each testing center will have a presiding officer from the NTA.
• The officer will act as the central authority at the center, much like polling booth supervisors during elections, ensuring adherence to protocols and accountability.

Sealing and Security Measures

• Testing centers will be sealed before the examination day in the presence of district administration and local police representatives.
• The centers will remain under 24/7 surveillance until unsealed on exam day by NTA officials and local administrators.
• Question papers and critical exam materials will be secured in a manner similar to the handling of electronic voting machines (EVMs), stored under police protection until needed.

Administrative Framework

State-Level Involvement

• A state nodal officer, nominated by the chief secretary, will coordinate efforts between the state police, Intelligence Bureau (IB), National Informatics Centre (NIC), and the NTA.
• State-level committees will design strategies for region-specific security concerns and logistical challenges.

District-Level Roles

• The district magistrate will lead the local administration, supported by:
  • District police chiefs
  • IB officers
  • NIC and NTA representatives
• These committees will evaluate testing centers, scrutinizing their history, infrastructure, and risk factors.
• They will oversee the secure transport of question papers using police or paramilitary escorts and GPS tracking systems.

Role of Presiding Officers

• Responsible for sealing and opening centers in the presence of district officials.
• Oversee the collection of answer sheets, escorted under security to central processing locations.

Technological and Security Enhancements

DigiYatra-Inspired Authentication

• Incorporation of biometric verification and Aadhaar-based multi-stage authentication.
• Candidate identity validation during application and on exam day using this “digit-exam” model.

CCTV and Real-Time Monitoring

• Continuous CCTV surveillance at exam centers.
• District monitoring centers to provide real-time oversight.
• Centralized dashboard for live national-level monitoring, ensuring swift issue resolution.

 Restricting NTA’s Role

To mitigate operational overextension and controversies such as paper leaks, the NTA’s responsibilities will be limited to conducting entrance exams. Recruitment tests, which often face logistical and security challenges, will now be managed by other central and state agencies. Furthermore, 10 specialized verticals within the NTA will focus on key areas such as IT security, data management, and operational oversight, ensuring a streamlined and accountable examination process.

NTA to Announce 2025 Exam Calendar: Key Dates for JEE, NEET, CUET, and UGC NET

New Delhi: The National Testing Agency (NTA) is expected to soon release its tentative exam calendar for 2025, offering students crucial information on the upcoming national-level entrance examinations. This schedule will include major dates for the following exams:

• JEE Main 2025 – For undergraduate engineering admissions in IITs, NITs, and other prestigious institutions.
• NEET UG 2025 – For medical, dental, and allied health sciences admissions.
• CUET UG 2025 – For admission to undergraduate programs at central universities and other participating institutions.
• UGC NET 2025 – For determining eligibility for Assistant Professorships and Junior Research Fellowships (JRF), essential for academia and PhD programs.

The tentative calendar will be available on NTA’s official website nta.nic.in, helping students align their preparation strategies well in advance. Once the calendar is released, detailed notifications, including eligibility criteria, exam patterns, and application timelines, will be published on the respective official portals for each exam.

Details About the Upcoming Exams

1. JEE Main 2025:
   JEE Main will continue to be held in two sessions, typically in January and April. This provides students with two opportunities to improve their scores and secure admissions to top engineering institutions.
2. NEET UG 2025:
   The NEET UG exam, which remains a single-session exam, will likely be conducted in May 2025. Given the highly competitive nature of NEET, students aspiring for MBBS and BDS programs across India should monitor the final announcement closely for any changes in the syllabus or exam pattern.
3. CUET UG 2025:
   The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) has grown in importance, with central universities and other institutions using it for admissions to both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. The CUET will be held across multiple shifts to accommodate the large number of applicants. The exam dates are expected to be spread across May and June 2025.
4. UGC NET 2025:
   In 2025, UGC NET is expected to continue in its biannual format, being conducted twice a year. This exam is essential for aspirants seeking careers in academia as Assistant Professors or for securing the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), which opens opportunities for PhD programs across Indian universities.

Recent Developments and Adjustments

In an effort to avoid scheduling conflicts with other major exams, the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBSHSE) recently adjusted its Class 12 board exam schedule to prevent a clash with JEE Main dates. This is part of a broader trend, where educational authorities aim to streamline exam calendars to reduce the burden on students.

What to Expect Next?

Students should regularly check NTA’s official website for updates and notifications. The tentative calendar will help aspirants plan their preparation journeys early, but it is essential to follow up with the final detailed notifications, which will contain specifics such as registration dates, application deadlines, and exam centers.

With 2025 poised to be a competitive academic year, the timely release of the NTA exam calendar will allow students to better manage their study schedules and avoid last-minute surprises.

The University of Delhi (DU) has initiated the second phase of the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS) for undergraduate (UG) admissions for the academic session 2024–25, starting August 1, 2024. Following the conclusion of CSAS Phase I, candidates can now select their preferred programmes and college combinations for the next round. To participate in this selection process, candidates need to log in to their dashboard on the official website, ugadmission.uod.ac.in.

According to the official notice, “Candidates who have still not registered themselves on the CSAS portal will also be able to register as the University has decided to keep both phases open till 04:59 p.m. Wednesday, August 07, 2024. Phase I and Phase II will close at 04:59 p.m. Wednesday, August 07, 2024, and the preferences saved/submitted by the candidate will get auto-locked on reaching the deadline of 05:00 p.m. Friday, August 09, 2024.”

DU UG CSAS Phase 2: Counselling Schedule

• Correction Window for Phase I Candidates: July 30, 2024, to August 4, 2024, till 11:59 p.m.
• CSAS Preference Filling: August 1, 2024, to August 7, 2024, till 4:59 p.m.
• Preferences Auto-locking: 5:00 p.m. on August 9, 2024.
• Simulated Rank Declaration: 5:00 p.m. on August 11, 2024.
• Preference Change Window: 5:00 p.m. on August 11, 2024, to August 12, 2024, till 11:59 p.m.
• First CSAS Allocation List: 5:00 p.m. on August 16, 2024.

First Round of Allocation and Admission

• Acceptance of Allocated Seat: August 16, 2024, to August 18, 2024, till 4:59 p.m.
• Verification and Approval by College: August 16, 2024, to August 20, 2024, till 4:59 p.m.
• Last Date for Online Fee Payment: August 21, 2024, till 4:59 p.m.

Second Round of Allocation and Admission

• Display of Vacant Seats: 5:00 p.m. on August 22, 2024.
• Re-order of Higher Preferences: August 22, 2024, to August 23, 2024, till 4:59 p.m.
• Second CSAS Allocation: 5:00 p.m. on August 25, 2024.
• Acceptance of Allocated Seat: August 25, 2024, to August 27, 2024, till 4:59 p.m.
• Verification and Approval by College: August 25, 2024, to August 29, 2024, till 4:59 p.m.
• Last Date for Online Fee Payment: 4:59 p.m. on August 30, 2024.

According to the University of Delhi’s (UoD) guidelines for calculating programme-specific merit scores, candidates must align the subjects they studied in Class 12 with those they appeared for in the CUET-2024 during Phase II. Only CUET papers from candidates who have passed their Class 12 board exams will be considered. Applicants should refer to the Bulletin of Information for details on subject similarities. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure accurate subject mapping, as this decision is final and binding. Note that there will be no subject mapping required for the General Test of CUET (UG)-2024.

The official notice states that the University of Delhi will announce additional rounds of the admission process based on seat availability. The Admission Branch has established email support, chatbots, and helpdesks to assist prospective students. Many colleges will also have dedicated helpdesks. Additionally, a series of webinars will be conducted to guide applicants through the admissions process, with the first one scheduled to be live on the official UnivofDelhi YouTube channel on Friday, August 2, 2024, at noon.