Daily Mains Question – GS 1 – 5th August 2025
- TPP
- Aug 5
- 2 min read
Welcome to your daily UPSC Mains Answer Practice! Today’s question examines the role of digital technologies in reforming the administration of competitive examinations in India—an issue of growing national concern. Amidst rising instances of paper leaks, exam cancellations, and logistical failures—such as the recent NEET-UG and UGC-NET controversies—students and parents have raised urgent demands for greater transparency, fairness, and accessibility in the exam process. With over 30 million aspirants appearing for various public examinations each year, ensuring the integrity of these systems is vital for social justice and equal opportunity. This question is highly relevant for GS Paper 1 – Social Issues, particularly in the context of educational equity, institutional trust, and the digital divide, which are central to India's broader developmental discourse.
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QUESTION
Discuss the role of digital technologies in addressing the challenges of fairness, accessibility, and administrative efficiency in competitive examinations in India.
Answer: Recent incidents like the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak, UGC-NET cancellation, and the postponement of NEET-PG have exposed vulnerabilities in India’s examination ecosystem, shaking public confidence. With over 3 crore candidates appearing in national-level competitive exams annually, maintaining integrity, accessibility, and efficiency is imperative. Digital technologies offer robust solutions to modernize and secure exam administration.
1. Enhancing Transparency:
Blockchain Technology: Immutable ledger can track the entire exam lifecycle—question setting to result declaration.
Digital Watermarking: Identifies the leak source in case of a breach (used by UPSC in confidential documents).
AI-Powered Proctoring: Real-time monitoring via webcams and behavior analysis ensures integrity in online modes (e.g., SWAYAM platform).
2. Improving Accessibility:
Online Exam Portals: Enable rural candidates to apply, access admit cards, and receive results efficiently.
Multilingual Interfaces: Local language support widens reach, aligning with NEP 2020’s multilingualism mandate.
Assistive Technologies: Screen readers, speech-to-text tools empower candidates with disabilities (in line with RPWD Act 2016).
3. Boosting Efficiency:
Biometric Authentication: Prevents impersonation (used in Aadhaar-based verification for JEE/NEET).
Cloud-based Infrastructure: Ensures rapid and scalable data handling and storage.
Real-time GPS Tracking: Secures logistics of question papers and evaluation materials.
Institutional Support:
High-Level Expert Committee (2024) formed by MoE to reform the National Testing Agency (NTA) and strengthen digital exam protocols.
Leveraging digital technologies is no longer optional but essential to preserve the sanctity of India’s examination system. With the right integration of AI, blockchain, biometric tools, and inclusive digital platforms, India can uphold trust, ensure equitable access, and optimize administration—paving the way for a transparent and future-ready exam ecosystem.
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