AI and Blockchain can solve India’s Exam leak crisis

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As a crypto investor and someone who closely follows technological advancements, I strongly believe that the Indian government’s exploration of blockchain technology and AI to ensure transparency in government examinations is a commendable step towards addressing systemic issues and preventing irregularities. The recent incidents of alleged question paper leaks and other irregularities in crucial exams like NEET and UGC-NET have put the educational prospects of millions of students at risk, and it’s essential that such incidents are addressed decisively.

Lately in India, accusations of unfair practices have surfaced in two significant online government exams overseen by the National Testing Agency (NTA), sparking a political uproar and potentially endangering the academic futures of countless students. Amidst these controversies, India is now considering the implementation of Blockchain technology and Artificial Intelligence to guarantee a level playing field in future examinations.

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical hopefuls and the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET), which is the prerequisite exam to instruct in Indian universities, have been subjected to scrutiny due to accusations of question paper leaks and other unlawful activities. In response to these revelations, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has called off the UGC NET examination and transferred the investigation of NEET irregularities to India’s top investigative body, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

As a diligent analyst, I cannot help but express my concern when encountering instances of irregularities in government examinations. These occurrences not only tarnish the reputation of the government’s commitment to uphold transparency during state recruitments, but also pose a significant threat to the careers and future prospects of millions of students. In essence, their hard work and dedication may amount to nothing more than a wasted investment of time and energy.

The Indian administration has acted by dismissing the NTA chief and establishing a seven-person panel, headed by K. Radhakrishnan, previous ISRO chairman, to propose enhancements in examination procedures and data safety.

AI and Blockchain to help in transparency

Based on recent advancements, an article in The Indian Express newspaper proposes that the Indian government may capitalize on the capabilities of blockchain and artificial intelligence to promote transparency during government examinations.

In contemporary administration, technology holds significant importance, and the Indian government is exploring the potential of blockchain technology to bring about decentralization in various sectors such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture produce, insurance, logistics, and higher education certificates.

NITI Aayog, India’s leading policy research organization, teamed up with the Indian School of Business (ISB) and Bitgram to develop a prototype decentralized system for university certificates. This project aims to minimize fraud by generating unique digital tokens, called ‘SuperCert’, for each student. SuperCert includes a hashed certificate version with an authentic timestamp that cannot be altered.

Employing a similar perspective, this technology can be utilized to bring about transparency in government exams and prevent unauthorized disclosure of question papers prior to the examination or manipulation of result certificates after they have been issued.

The preliminary findings from the investigation into the two government tests revealed that the suspects, who intended harm, apparently obtained the test papers through the deep web.

As a researcher investigating the issue of leaked documents on the dark web, I believe it’s important to acknowledge that merely placing blame on this hidden corner of the internet is an oversimplification. The root cause of this problem runs deeper, with systemic issues fueling the demand for such information. Consequently, a holistic approach is necessary to effectively combat this threat. In my opinion, the Radhakrishnan committee could explore several creative solutions:

As a blockchain analyst, I would propose storing question papers on the blockchain for enhanced security and transparency. By utilizing this decentralized technology, we can assure that the question papers are tamper-proof and maintain an unalterable record of their history. Each bundle of papers will have its unique digital footprint, allowing all stakeholders to trace its origin and verify its authenticity.

” instead of having a single central server overseeing government exams at hundreds of locations nationwide, the National Testing Agency (NTA) could adopt a decentralized computing approach to strengthen its defenses against Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks.

As a crypto investor, I can utilize AI technology to monitor potential irregularities or malpractices in the candidates or projects I’m considering. This advanced tool can help ensure transparency and integrity within the crypto space.

Conclusion

As a crypto investor and concerned citizen, I strongly believe that a comprehensive strategy is necessary to address the issue of fraud in online government exams. By harnessing the power of blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI), we can significantly reduce the occurrence of irregularities. Although these technologies are still evolving, it is crucial for the Indian government to embrace their potential and make full use of them. This will not only safeguard the interests of genuine candidates but also uphold fairness and integrity in the examination process.

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2024-07-02 10:28