Recommendations of K Radhakrishnan Panel on India’s National Entrance Exams

Source: The post Recommendations of K Radhakrishnan Panel on India’s National Entrance Exams has been created, based on the article “Express View on exam reform recommendations: Test, not stress” published in “Indian Express” on 23rd December 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2- Governance-Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education

Context: The article discusses the problems in India’s national entrance exams, including paper leaks and delays. It highlights K Radhakrishnan panel’s recommendations to improve transparency, security, and efficiency, such as reducing the NTA’s role, improving infrastructure, and using digital systems to ensure fairness for all candidates. Recommendations of K Radhakrishnan Panel on India’s National Entrance Exams

What are the problems in India’s national entrance exams?

1. Frequent Paper Leaks: In the last five years, 41 paper leaks across 15 states affected 1.4 crore candidates.
2. Postponements and Cancellations: In 2024, NEET and UGC-NET faced delays due to compromised integrity.
3. Delays in Results: CUET results were delayed for the third consecutive year, causing challenges for students.
4. Overburdened NTA: The NTA conducted 244 exams since 2018, with candidates increasing from 67 lakh (2019-202
5. Technological Glitches: Poor user interfaces and inadequate support systems, like CUET’s glitches, highlighted infrastructure gaps.

For detailed information on National Testing Agency (NTA) read this article here

What recommendations did K Radhakrishnan’s panel propose?

1. Reducing NTA’s Role:

• The panel suggested that the National Testing Agency (NTA) should only conduct entrance exams, not recruitment tests.
• Since 2018, the NTA has conducted 244 exams, with the number of registered candidates doubling from 67 lakh (2019-2021) to 122 lakh (2022-2023).

2. Improving Exam Security:

• The panel recommended a tiered collaboration between the Centre and states, similar to election management, for securing exams.
• It proposed adopting a “digi-exam” system inspired by DigiYatra for biometric candidate verification.

3. Modernizing Exam Methods:

• A shift to computer-adaptive testing was suggested, where questions match the ability of candidates.

Why is a digital overhaul necessary, and what challenges exist?

1. Need for Digital Infrastructure: The panel stressed creating robust security systems and accessible digital platforms. Examples like CUET glitches show that tech-driven reforms need careful planning.
2. Ensuring Equity: It emphasized making the systems user-friendly to avoid creating inequalities. Every candidate should be able to navigate the processes without stress or confusion.

Question for practice:

Discuss the challenges faced by India’s national entrance exams and the recommendations proposed by the K Radhakrishnan panel to address them.