How IITs Conduct JEE without Any Issues: A Model for Reforming the Examination Process

The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have been conducting the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) with remarkable success, and the National Testing Agency (NTA) is now considering adopting a similar model to reform the examination process. The NTA recently constituted a high-level committee to look into ways to improve the conduct of examinations, following reports of malpractices in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG).

JEE, a prestigious examination in India, has had its share of troubles in the past, including a CBI inquiry in 2021 due to manipulation at an exam centre in Haryana. However, the IITs have consistently maintained the integrity of the process. The examination is conducted in two stages: JEE (Mains) and JEE (Advanced). While JEE (Mains) is conducted by the NTA with some involvement of the IITs, JEE (Advanced) is handled entirely by the IITs themselves.

One of the key differences between JEE and NEET is that JEE is a computer-based exam, held at designated centres run by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). This has several advantages, including reduced vulnerabilities in the examination process, such as the possibility of question paper leaks during transport and distribution. However, online tests also introduce new risks, such as technology-based irregularities and digital impersonation.

To ensure the integrity of the examination, the IITs take great care to prepare question papers in complete secrecy. Two groups of faculty members from different IITs work in separate cities to prepare two different sets of questions for each subject. The question papers are handed over to the JEE chairman, who decides which set to use for the examination. The test centres are given access to the question papers a couple of hours before the scheduled start of the test, and IIT faculty members supervise the process.

The active involvement of the IITs in the examination process has been a key factor in maintaining the sanctity of the process. “IITs and its faculty members have a lot of stakes in this system. It’s not just about the reputation of the institute, but also our livelihoods. If admissions are not done properly, then our own careers are over. So, there is a very strong sense of ownership,” said a faculty member who has been involved with the process.

The IITs’ control over the examination process is a distinguishing factor between JEE and NEET. “Earlier, AIIMS used to conduct their own examinations, and there was never a question over its credibility. IIMs conduct their examinations, and that too goes on smoothly. One problem is the very large number of students appearing for NEET, which raises the stakes and makes people willing to pay any amount to get an advantage at the entrance,” said a retired IIT faculty member.

The IITs’ model could be a valuable lesson for the NTA in creating computer-based testing capacities and addressing the weaknesses in the examination process. As one faculty member noted, “NEET is too important an exam to be allowed to have these kinds of weaknesses.”