Hyderabad: Curbing hitech malpractices in competitive exams has become a big challenge with the advent of state-of-the-art electronic gadgets over the last few years. In this backdrop, CBSE has decided to utilise the latest technology available in the market to counter unfair copying attempts by candidates.

CBSE has given orders for procurement of 8,000 hand-held bugs/metal detectors, which it will put into use during competitive exams like IIT-JEE, CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test), AIPMT (All India Pre-Medical Test), JNVST (Jawaharal Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test), UGC-NET (Nation-al Eligibility Test) etc. conducted by various boards including CBSE.

The aim is to frisk candidates at the entrance of the examination centres and check if anyone is carrying electronic devi-ces. These highly sensitive bugs and metal detectors will be used in sensitive examination centres.

CBSE, which invited tenders from interested parties, has put forward a few conditions. These devices should detect any prohibited metallic/electronic devices/copper/aluminum/silver etc and also wire/cell battery/watch battery/miniature electronic gadget/photovoltaic equipment or similar material at examination centres. Also, preference will be given to domestically manufactured electronic gadgets, the board stressed.

This move by CBSE board drew praise of academicians and teachers. Shyam Sunder, principal of Narayana IIT Academy in the city pointed out that incidents of malpractices has become a common feature in Northern states, especially Bihar.

“Every year more than 11 lakh students, including one and half lakh from AP and TS, appear for the IIT Mains exam every year. Using latest technology will pay great dividends. Meritorious students, who put in everything during preparation, will excel and achieve top ranks,” he felt.
OU Professor B. Satyanarayana echoed similar views. Every year scores of final-year PG students write the NET exam. Any irregularity in any part of the country will spell doom to hard-working candidates, whose career will be at stake, he stressed.