Discs will be locked with three layers of password to check question leak

In an attempt to check the leak of question papers, the Gujarat Technological University (GTU) has decided to send the questions in Compact Discs (CDs) to its engineering and pharmaceutical colleges for the next semester examinations. The CDs will be locked with three layers of password.

The method, which will be a first of its kind in Gujarat, will be used during the examination of first-year beginning December 15. This system has already been followed in a few technical universities of the country for the last six years.

There are nearly 200 colleges affiliated with the GTU in the state, having around 55,000 students in the first year. Almost all the colleges have welcomed the move.

N N Bhupatani, Registrar, GTU, told Newsline: "Instead of sealed envelopes, we will send two sealed CDs which will contain files of question papers to all the colleges. It will reduce the possibility of paper leak."

The principals will be sent the passwords through e-mails 30 minutes ahead of the examination, Bhupatani said. He added, "We will also appoint a person for every college who will reach the examination centre with an extra CD as backup."

A senior official from the State Education Department said that in the past, in spite of several security measures, incidents of question paper leak have been reported. "Earlier, we used to remain worried as to whether the question papers would reach the centres on time or not. The possibility of tampering with the question papers during transportation will also not be there anymore," the official said.