NAGPUR: Mobile phone jammers, fingerprint scanners, spy camera blockers
etc are gadgets which might be commonplace on the shopping list of a spy agency, but now there is an unlikely buyer on the block - CBSE.
With big ticket competitive exams under its aegis, the central board wants to provide the highest level of security for its centres and is scouting for experienced firms to provide and run the set-up. A pilot version of this project will be undertaken at select centres across the country on May 13, during the final All India Pre-Medical/Dental Test (AIPMT).
CBSE wants to ensure that no form of malpractice occurs during the competitive exams which it conducts. Currently the board is conducting the common entrance tests (CET) for engineering, medical, CBSE teachers etc. From next year onwards, the CBSE will also be responsible for the newer versions of medical and IIT/engineering exams which will greatly increase the number of candidates.
The central board plans to put portable mobile phone jammers at its centres which will completely block not only voice transmissions, but also Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. They are also looking for gadgets that will block spy cameras from being used and disable a specified bandwidth. All these gadgets will be able to run on battery as well, in case there are problems in accessing the electric points.
For accurate candidate verification, the board plans to use a portable fingerprint scanner and camera. Once the candidate is seated at the centre, a designated person will bring the portable fingerprint scanner inside the room. Two fingers of the candidate will be scanned and a picture taken, to be later merged in the database alongside the roll number. This multi-step verification process will ensure that no fake candidate appears for the competitive exams.
For the project's dry run scheduled for May 13, the CBSE has selected 10 cities in the country and Mumbai is the only one from Maharashtra. In a letter to prospective security service providers, the CBSE has mentioned that a maximum of 30,788 students will be present in the centres where the pilot project will be implemented. In Mumbai specifically, 409 students will be appearing at the specified centre and the service provider will have to be ready with that level of infrastructure.
While this is just the first step, the CBSE is well aware of the magnitude of competitive exams it conducts. The current enrolment for AIEEE is 11.64 lakh (both online and offline) and will go higher once the single CET is implemented next year. Around 7.8 lakh had enrolled for the Central Teachers Eligibility Test (CTET) this year, and 2.75 lakh had registered for the AIPMT prelims. To provide security infrastructure on that scale will be an uphill task for any firm which bags the contract and also for CBSE, which will be in the firing line if anything does go wrong.
With big ticket competitive exams under its aegis, the central board wants to provide the highest level of security for its centres and is scouting for experienced firms to provide and run the set-up. A pilot version of this project will be undertaken at select centres across the country on May 13, during the final All India Pre-Medical/Dental Test (AIPMT).
CBSE wants to ensure that no form of malpractice occurs during the competitive exams which it conducts. Currently the board is conducting the common entrance tests (CET) for engineering, medical, CBSE teachers etc. From next year onwards, the CBSE will also be responsible for the newer versions of medical and IIT/engineering exams which will greatly increase the number of candidates.
The central board plans to put portable mobile phone jammers at its centres which will completely block not only voice transmissions, but also Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. They are also looking for gadgets that will block spy cameras from being used and disable a specified bandwidth. All these gadgets will be able to run on battery as well, in case there are problems in accessing the electric points.
For accurate candidate verification, the board plans to use a portable fingerprint scanner and camera. Once the candidate is seated at the centre, a designated person will bring the portable fingerprint scanner inside the room. Two fingers of the candidate will be scanned and a picture taken, to be later merged in the database alongside the roll number. This multi-step verification process will ensure that no fake candidate appears for the competitive exams.
For the project's dry run scheduled for May 13, the CBSE has selected 10 cities in the country and Mumbai is the only one from Maharashtra. In a letter to prospective security service providers, the CBSE has mentioned that a maximum of 30,788 students will be present in the centres where the pilot project will be implemented. In Mumbai specifically, 409 students will be appearing at the specified centre and the service provider will have to be ready with that level of infrastructure.
While this is just the first step, the CBSE is well aware of the magnitude of competitive exams it conducts. The current enrolment for AIEEE is 11.64 lakh (both online and offline) and will go higher once the single CET is implemented next year. Around 7.8 lakh had enrolled for the Central Teachers Eligibility Test (CTET) this year, and 2.75 lakh had registered for the AIPMT prelims. To provide security infrastructure on that scale will be an uphill task for any firm which bags the contract and also for CBSE, which will be in the firing line if anything does go wrong.
No comments:
Post a Comment