NEET Alternative: A New Assessment System Proposed by Ex-IAS Officers and IIT Director

A team of retired IAS officers, including former Education Secretary R. Subrahmanyan, and a former IIT director, Prem Kalra, has suggested a novel approach to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and other high-stakes exams. The proposal, dubbed the Continuous Assessment System for Admission (CASA), aims to replace the traditional exam system with a more comprehensive and student-centric approach.

According to the proposal, the new system would consist of eight quarterly tests, two internships, and a centralized entrance exam. The tests would be conducted online, with Artificial Intelligence-based fraud detection systems to ensure transparency and fairness. The team has suggested a weightage of 40:40:20, with 40% for continuous academic assessments, 40% for social and professional aptitude, and 20% for a final exit exam.

The quarterly tests would be conducted over a two-year period, with students able to take the exams on any day or pre-assigned week, ensuring they don’t miss out on classes. The team has also proposed that schools evaluate student performance based on handwritten reports from their internships, with marks displayed on school websites for transparency.

The internships would be six weeks long and take place at select institutes, such as IITs, NITs, and industries, to assess students’ domain aptitude. Additionally, students would participate in National Service Scheme/National Cadet Corps programs to evaluate their social aptitude.

The final exit exam would be conducted online, at least twice a year, allowing students to choose their best score. The team has suggested that the exam should be conducted in a way that ensures no student is denied admission due to a tie-breaker, with supernumerary seats created if needed.

The proposal also suggests that the new system can start from the 2024-25 academic year, with the first intake of candidates using this system in the 2026-27 admission season. Until then, all exams would be conducted as Computer-Based Tests (CBTs) using robust cyber security protocols.

The stakeholders in this revised system would be state governments, the National Testing Agency, and educational institutes, which would become permanent test centers. The team believes that this system would bring the focus back to school education and school systems, and would also strengthen school boards due to greater participation in the assessment process.

Students would have the opportunity to explore their desired professions through internships and hands-on activities, such as tinkering labs, virtual labs, and robotics. The proposal has been submitted to the committee constituted by the Centre to look into NEET irregularities and suggest exam reforms under the chairmanship of former ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan.