GUWAHATI: The Assam government has established a state-level coordination committee. This move follows a directive from the Union Ministry of Education to ensure the fair and secure administration of examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
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The NTA, which oversees several prestigious entrance exams for centrally funded engineering and medical institutions across the country. Assam’s Higher Education Department issued the notification in compliance with a letter from the Department of Higher Education, Government of India, dated November 20, concerning the implementation of these reforms.
The newly formed committee comprises six members, including Madhu Sudan Nath, a state civil service officer and secretary to the Assam government’s Higher Education Department, who will serve as the nodal officer. Other members include representatives from the state police, a nodal officer nominated by the Director General (DG) of the NTA, a National Informatics Centre (NIC) officer at the state level, a Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau officer, and an additional co-opted member as needed.
Among the committee’s key responsibilities is to ensure seamless communication between the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police (DGP), and the NTA’s Director General. The committee will also devise strategies to dismantle organised networks involved in examination malpractices, such as paper leaks.
The notification mandates the safeguarding of question papers and OMR answer sheets until the exams conclude. The NTA is required to ensure that leftover materials are securely deposited. Additionally, examination centres will be sealed under the supervision of district administration officials.
Further measures include setting up CCTV monitoring centres at the district level, jointly operated by the NTA and district authorities, to enhance transparency and oversight.
