In the media

Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) will award around 50,000 engineering and management degrees using blockchain technology. The system enhances security, prevents fraud, and streamlines degree issuance, supporting institutional credibility and student trust, and allows secure access to print, and validate degrees.

The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UP) Board is enhancing efforts against age fraud in High School exams, especially in sports. It plans stronger safeguards, integrating Aadhaar and a 12-digit unique student identifier (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry - APAAR), part of the National Education Policy 2020's 'One Nation, One Student ID' initiative. This aims to secure registration, ensure data authenticity, and minimize fraud.

A recent survey of 90,000 students revealed that 50% double-check that online education providers are approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC). This highlights growing concerns among prospective students about potential fraudulent practices, including payment security and degree validity. In response, the UGC has prohibited certain disciplines, such as law and engineering, from being offered online to uphold educational standards.

In Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, weak political will, poor learning outcomes, and a teacher shortage drive students to cheat during exams. In 2023, British universities flagged 7,300 undergraduate applications for plagiarism, including 765 from India. AI tools now enable sophisticated plagiarism, complicating detection. The article advocates leveraging AI’s potential and rethinking assessments to align with technological advancements rather than banning its use outright.

India’s entrance test system for jobs and professional courses fuels intense competition and corruption. The limited availability of seats for medical courses drives a booming coaching industry and immense pressure on students—30% report mental health issues. Rising unemployment (37% in June 2024) and declining youth economic participation (37%) further expose flaws in the centralized education system, with private schooling contributing to inequality.

West Bengal Minister of Education called for a probe into alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test 2024. According to the minister, cheating in exams must be punished and stressed the need for accountability to safeguard the future of medical students.

India’s education sector has emerged as an early adopter of blockchain technology to enhance its efficiency and address longstanding challenges. In India, academic records have historically been vulnerable to fraud, with certificate forgery growing into a billion-dollar industry. Blockchain technology offers a solution by creating a transparent and secure system for safeguarding data. Since its implementation, nearly 1 million digital diploma certificates spanning eight academic years have been issued using blockchain standards, setting a new benchmark for security and transparency.

The Indian government has introduced the Anti-Cheating in Public Examinations Bill to combat rampant academic dishonesty and preserve the integrity of the education system. The Bill proposes strict measures such as increased surveillance, stricter rules for invigilators and severe penalties for cheating such as 10 years' imprisonment and a of ₹1 crore for those involved in exam malpractice. Additionally, the bill aims to establish a national technical committee to enhance exam security and fairness.

The incidence of plagiarism in personal statements submitted by students for British university applications has doubled in the last two years, with India having the highest number of such cases among international applicants. According to a spokesperson from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, 7,300 applications were flagged for plagiarism in 2023, with 765 from India, compared to 3,559 flagged in 2021.

The Bihar Police Constable Exam's written test faced cancellation due to extensive cheating practices observed among numerous candidates. Reports indicated the use of devices, cheating materials, handwritten sheets, and other illicit methods for copying answers. An organized group was found to be behind these actions, casting doubts on the examination's fairness and integrity. Authorities are conducting a detailed investigation into the matter, and fresh exam dates will be released subsequently.