J&K govt constitutes committee to facilitate NTA exams

Srinagar, Feb 25: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday constituted a high level committee to which has been entrusted to facilitate the conduct of the examination held by National Testing Agency (NTA).

As per the order issued by the General Administration Department (GAD), the committee is headed by Administrative Secretary Higher Education Department as its Chairman.

The members of the committee include Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and Jammu division, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir and Jammu division, Director  Colleges J&K, J&K State Informatics Officer NIC, J&K, Additional Secretary J&K Public Service Commission, (UT level Nodal Officer   nominated vide Government  Order  No.1643-JK(GAD) of 2024 dated September 13, 2024) and one Nodal Officer nominated  by Director  General, National Testing Agency (NTA).

As per the order, the committee will establish  a hotline between  the Chief  Secretary J&K,  Director General of Police J&K, and Director   General NTA

"The committee will prepare an integrated strategy to break the nexus of the paper leak mafia and prepare an exam-specific strategy for major examinations such as JEE, NEET, UGC-NET and CUET to ensure fair, transparent, and zero error  examination," the order reads.

The committee will also issue specific briefings to the District level Committees to prepare  for such examinations and ensure that District Level Committees constituted are fully operational.

"The committee will review the performance of District Level Committees after every major examination and submit a consolidated report based on observations and suggestions of district level committees to the NTA for necessary action," it reads.

As per the order, Senior Superintendent of Police, District Nodal Officer nominated by NTA, Principal of the concerned college, Chief Education Officer, District Informatics Officer NIC will be the members of the district level coordination committee.

The district level coordination committees have been tasked to identify suitable Testing Centres for the PPT and CBT after thoroughly scrutinizing the previous year's examinations conducted at these   Testing Centres.

"The committee will do the background analyses of the owners of prospective examination Centres, previous incidents of paper leaks, and inputs of the Intelligence Bureau, Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) shall be considered while suggesting the list," the GAD order reads.

It reads that the district level committee will prepare a list of suspicious elements or miscreants and closely monitor their activities.

"The committee will ensure that the suggested lists of prospective Centres possess adequate infrastructure. A list of Centres with  appropriate facilities for Persons with Disabilities shall be provided  separately," it reads.

It further reads that the committee will prepare a strategy for safe  transportation of question papers (in case of PPT) from  the custodian to Testing  Centres, under "adequate security provided by the District Police and Paramilitary Forces."