CBI suggests measures to prevent NEET malpractices

MADURAI: The CBI has suggested the implementation of various measures such as fingerprint based identification, iris matching and use of facial recognition software to prevent malpractice during NEET exams.
In its report submitted before the Madras high court, CBI stated that fraudsters are using photo mixing software to manipulate the photographs and the appearance in the admit card is made to resemble the proxy writer. This makes it difficult for the invigilators at the centres to differentiate between the original candidate and the proxy due to time constraints.
The fraud is perpetrated generally at this stage of examination as during counselling the original candidate would attend. In order to prevent such practices, at the time of submission of online application, an online photograph of the applicant using webcam should be taken which should be kept available in the database for comparison at the exam centre as well.
The fingerprint based identification is a basic technique to counter impersonation. The fingerprint data which is uploaded along with the applications should be compared online with the scanned fingerprints obtained at the exam centres itself. The database should be stored and should be compared at the time of counselling as well as at the time of admission in order to rule out any type of fraud throughout the process. The CBI further stated that iris matching which is a unique identification process could also be used to prevent malpractice. Iris data may be captured at the exam centres which can be compared with the iris data taken during counselling.
The number of examination centres should be increased so as to enable proper control and monitoring. The feasibility of integrating NEET examination related database with that of UIDAI should be explored. This would enable Aadhaar verification and biometric comparison.
The counselling committee members and invigilators should be trained to be more vigilant and proactive while screening the documents and photographs of the candidates, stated the CBI, in its report.
Taking cognizance of the report submitted by the CBI, kustice M Nirmal Kumar said that he would pass orders. The court was hearing the bail petition filed by Rasheed, a middleman who was arrested in connection with the NEET impersonation case by the Theni CB-CID police.