The NEET-UG 2024 examination faced significant disruption due to a paper leak scandal, prompting the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to arrest several individuals, including school administrators and members of solver gangs. This incident has highlighted the need for more secure methods to conduct high-stakes exams. Experts suggest that blockchain technology could be a key tool in preventing such breaches.
How Blockchain Can Enhance Exam Security
Blockchain technology offers a decentralized and secure way to manage and verify data, making it an attractive solution for exam management. Here’s how it can help:
- Eliminating Intermediaries:
- Blockchain removes the need for third parties or intermediaries in the exam process.
- Each transaction and record is securely stored within a single platform, reducing the risk of internal corruption and unauthorized access.
- Sequential Encryption and Real-Time Generation:
- Blockchain enables the sequential encryption of exam papers, ensuring they are locked until the candidate’s private key is used.
- This process includes asymmetric signature encryption, sequential cryptography, multiparty computation, and randomized paper setting.
- Secure Registration and Paper Handling:
- The entire examination process, from user registration to exam paper encryption and decryption, is secured.
- The exam board manages test setup, paper creation, and assignment of centers.
- Secure handover of question papers is ensured through public and private key infrastructure, allowing only authorized interactions between students, contributors, and invigilators.
- Accountability and Transparency:
- Blockchain records every event in the examination chain, from paper setting to distribution, in a secure ledger.
- This immutable record makes it nearly impossible to alter or insert blocks, ensuring a consistent and trustworthy transaction history.
- In case of leaks, the system enables traceable handover of exam papers, aiding investigative agencies in pinpointing the source and extent of the breach.
Expert Insights on Blockchain Implementation
- EduBlock Pro’s Vikram R. Singh:
- Highlights the removal of third-party interventions and secure locking of exam papers.
- Emphasizes that blockchain can ensure a fairer and smoother process by identifying the source of any leaks.
- BITS Pilani’s Ashutosh Bhatia:
- Notes that blockchain makes the exam process fairer and more leak-proof by recording every event securely.
- Asserts that this transparency helps in making the examination system more robust and reliable.
- Sanskriti Group’s Praneet Mungali:
- Agrees on the robustness of blockchain, calling it an “immutable ledger” that significantly enhances digital security.
- SPJIMR’s Vidhu Shekhar:
- Describes blockchain’s access control, secure storage, and tamper-evident nature as ideal for large-scale exam processes.
- Suggests that blockchain can encrypt and store exam papers securely, with controlled access during the exam.
Challenges and Cost Considerations
- Scalability and Operational Efficiency:
- Initial proof-of-concept tests, such as one conducted with the Government of Punjab, have shown seamless scalability.
- Implementing blockchain might not exceed current operational costs, and can potentially reduce costs related to paper transport and printing.
- Updating Current Systems:
- Transitioning to a blockchain-based system involves updating existing infrastructures to integrate new technologies.
- The removal of middle parties and real-time paper printing reduces operational complexities before and after the exam.
Conclusion
Blockchain technology holds significant promise in securing high-stakes exams like NEET-UG by enhancing transparency, accountability, and security. While it cannot entirely eliminate the possibility of leaks, it provides a robust framework to minimize risks and trace sources of breaches. Adopting blockchain for exam management could be a crucial step towards restoring integrity and trust in the examination process.
