KOCHI: Next time you appear for a professional examination conducted by the CBSE and you are confronted with a metal detector by an official manning security at the exam centre, don’t be surprised.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has now taken a decision to use metal detectors for such exams and has invited tenders for procuring 8,000 highly sensitive hand held bug/metal detectors.
The Board has resorted to this measure in order to check use of unfair practices through electronic devices by the candidates in professional examinations. These will be used to frisk candidates before entering the examination centre for detection of bugs/devices.
The Board has been entrusted by Government of India and other bodies to conduct professional competitive examinations and eligibility tests like JEE (Main), AIPMT, UGC NET, CTET and JNVST.
The CBSE has stipulated in the tender notice to prospective bidders that the bug/metal detector provided for frisking should be able to detect any prohibited metallic/electronics devices/copper/ aluminium/silver etc. wire/cell battery/watch battery/miniature electronic gadget/photovoltaic equipment or similar material at examination centres on the day of examination as per the requirement schedule.
There are both technical and financial bids in two separate envelopes and the earnest money deposit for the tender purpose is Rs 6 lakh. These detectors will be used at the centres in at least 52 cities across the country.
Last year, CBSE was forced to re-conduct the AIPMT on the orders of SC following reports of mass-cheating by students using Bluetooth devices and microphones on their clothes in Haryana.
