Maharashtra forms committee to study shifting government exams online after TET leak

The Maharashtra government has constituted a high-level committee in Mumbai to examine the feasibility of conducting all state government examinations online. The state higher and technical education department issued an order to this effect on Friday, following growing concerns over the security of offline exams.

The decision comes directly after the Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) paper leak last month. The state government aims to use the committee’s findings and recommendations to guide its future policy on exams, with the ultimate goal of improving security, ensuring transparency, and preventing similar leaks in the future.

The high-level committee will be chaired by the state's Chief Secretary. It comprises a broad group of administrative and security officials to ensure all aspects of the transition are thoroughly evaluated.

The members of the committee include the additional chief secretary (services) of the general administration department, the additional chief secretary of the higher and technical education department, and the additional chief secretary (financial reforms) of the finance department.

Other key members are the principal secretary of the school education and sports department, and the secretary of the electronics, information technology and artificial intelligence department. The Maharashtra director-general of police is also on the panel, alongside the commissioner of the state common entrance test (CET) cell in Mumbai, who will serve as the member secretary.

To aid in its decision-making process, the committee has been granted the power to seek external expertise. According to a senior official from the state higher and technical education department, the panel is empowered to invite senior officials from concerned departments, domain experts, and representatives of relevant institutions or organisations to participate in its deliberations whenever required.