CBSE Board Exam 2019: Double-encrypted question papers to be used only as backup
Manash Pratim Gohain | TNN | Jan 27, 2019, 09:26 IST
NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will continue to conduct its class X and XII board exams via the conventional hard copy question papers.
CBSE's solution to exam leaks-the successfully pilot tested double encrypted question papers of 2018 which were printed at the exam centres 30 minutes ahead of the test - will only be a backup option for the 2019 board exams as an "emergency" measure. The board has decided against the use of double encrypted question papers as the main paper due to logistical reason.
The exams will start from mid-February 2019 with the vocational courses first, while the academic subject exams will start in March, 2019. According to government sources, unlike as planned earlier, the board will continue with the conventional method of delivery of question papers to the exam centres.
Following leaking of question papers in the 2018 board exams, CBSE successfully pilot tested double encrypted question papers which were printed at the exam centres during the Class X compartmental exams in July 2018. The committee sup by the ministry of human resource development (MHRD) after the paper leaks also recommended use of technology in delivery of question papers.
The double encrypted question papers were delivered to the exam centre via email 30 minutes ahead of the exam. The passwords were sent separately to the exam centre superintendent. The question papers were then printed in the centre itself. The question papers will have details of the centres so that in case of any leaks, the source centre can also be tracked.
The board made a proposal of using encrypted question papers in July 2018 to the MHRD so as to minimise human intervention in delivery of question papers to the centres. This measure was also part of the recommendations received by the ministry from a seven-member high-powered committee set up in April 2018 after the incidents of question paper leaks in the March-April 2018 board exams. The board then stated that based on the success of the pilot test and after analysing the logistics involved, CBSE will take a call if this could be scaled up for the March 2019 exams as well.
"However, for the forthcoming exams double encrypted papers will be kept as backup option only. The Board did consider using the technology for the exams of the vocational subjects to be conducted in February 2019 where the number of students are significantly low. But the idea was finally shelved and decided to continue with the in-practice delivery mechanism. However, CBSE has put in place a number of security measures to strengthen the safety of question papers during its journey from the printer to the exam centres," said a senior HRD official.
"Delivery of double encrypted papers question papers is not feasible at present as many centres (schools) in remote areas do not have the required facilities. Moreover, in case of a centre with over a 1,000 candidates, it won't be possible to print 16,000 pages of question papers within 30 minutes. However, a second set of double encrypted papers, which will be different from the hard copies will be kept as a backup option," added the official.
CBSE's solution to exam leaks-the successfully pilot tested double encrypted question papers of 2018 which were printed at the exam centres 30 minutes ahead of the test - will only be a backup option for the 2019 board exams as an "emergency" measure. The board has decided against the use of double encrypted question papers as the main paper due to logistical reason.
The exams will start from mid-February 2019 with the vocational courses first, while the academic subject exams will start in March, 2019. According to government sources, unlike as planned earlier, the board will continue with the conventional method of delivery of question papers to the exam centres.
Following leaking of question papers in the 2018 board exams, CBSE successfully pilot tested double encrypted question papers which were printed at the exam centres during the Class X compartmental exams in July 2018. The committee sup by the ministry of human resource development (MHRD) after the paper leaks also recommended use of technology in delivery of question papers.
The double encrypted question papers were delivered to the exam centre via email 30 minutes ahead of the exam. The passwords were sent separately to the exam centre superintendent. The question papers were then printed in the centre itself. The question papers will have details of the centres so that in case of any leaks, the source centre can also be tracked.
The board made a proposal of using encrypted question papers in July 2018 to the MHRD so as to minimise human intervention in delivery of question papers to the centres. This measure was also part of the recommendations received by the ministry from a seven-member high-powered committee set up in April 2018 after the incidents of question paper leaks in the March-April 2018 board exams. The board then stated that based on the success of the pilot test and after analysing the logistics involved, CBSE will take a call if this could be scaled up for the March 2019 exams as well.
"However, for the forthcoming exams double encrypted papers will be kept as backup option only. The Board did consider using the technology for the exams of the vocational subjects to be conducted in February 2019 where the number of students are significantly low. But the idea was finally shelved and decided to continue with the in-practice delivery mechanism. However, CBSE has put in place a number of security measures to strengthen the safety of question papers during its journey from the printer to the exam centres," said a senior HRD official.
"Delivery of double encrypted papers question papers is not feasible at present as many centres (schools) in remote areas do not have the required facilities. Moreover, in case of a centre with over a 1,000 candidates, it won't be possible to print 16,000 pages of question papers within 30 minutes. However, a second set of double encrypted papers, which will be different from the hard copies will be kept as a backup option," added the official.
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