What is a digital lock that is supposed to keep NEET question papers safe?

The investigation into the alleged NEET-UG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) paper leak case has revealed several shocking details. From the distribution of question papers and answer sheets to candidates willing to pay lakhs before the medical entrance examination to malfunctioning digital locks, glaring gaps are coming to light almost every day.

Reports have surfaced that digital locks on some boxes containing 2024 NEET UG question papers did not open on the day of the exam on 5 May. But what are these? Why has the malfunctioning of digital locks further fuelled the NEET controversy?

Let’s understand.

What are digital locks?

A digital lock system on the boxes storing the NEET question papers is meant to protect them from leaks.

The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the medical entrance test, introduced digital locks in 2019 to hold the exam in a “smooth and fair manner and with technological advancements”, as per a Times of India (TOI) report.

These digital locks are supposed to automatically open before the NEET exam commences.

Officials told Indian Express that metal boxes containing question papers have two locks – one manual and the other digital. There is a key and cutter to open the manual lock, while the digital one is programmed to open 45 minutes before the examination.

ALSO READ:
Who is Sanjeev Mukhiya, the ‘kingpin’ of NEET paper leak case?

Digital locks failed to open

The digital locks did not open before the NEET exam at some centres, including at a school in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh.

Ehsanul Haque, the principal of Oasis School in Hazaribagh, told Indian Express that a digital lock on two boxes containing question papers failed to open at 1.15 pm on the day of the NEET examination.

Haque, who is also the Hazaribagh district coordinator of the NTA, said when he called the NTA asking what to do, he was told to “cut the digital lock with the cutter”.

Speaking to the newspaper, NTA’s observer Vishwa Ranjan said, “Digital locks were also used in the previous NEET-UG exams, and there was a beep that indicated they were open. This year we were surprised when they didn’t unlock. We alerted our city coordinator Ehsanul Haque, he contacted the NTA, and we were told that we should cut it using a cutter.”

At Vijaya School in Haryana’s Bahadurgarh, one box opened at 1:15 pm on May 5, but three failed to open. When the NTA was contacted, it directed officials to manually open the boxes, reported India Today.

The malfunctioning of these digital locks led to the delay in the distribution of question papers at some centres. The Bihar Police’s Economic Offences Unit (EOU) investigation has found that the postponement was a direct result of the digital lock failure, the India Today report added.

The NTA had awarded ‘grace marks’ to 1,563 candidates due to loss of exam time. Due to this, a record number of 67 toppers were declared in NEET’s history, creating a massive row.

Tampering allegations surface

Haque, the principal of Oasis School, has claimed the Bihar Police’s EOU has raised tampering concerns during the investigation into the alleged paper leak.

“On June 21, the EOU investigating the case noticed the tampering of the seven-layer packaging of the
NEET question paper
,” he told NDTV.

Haque said the tampering was detected in the seventh and innermost layer while checking the unused papers at the school.

The outermost layer consists of cardboard boxes inside which there are aluminium boxes with question papers, as per reports.

This aluminium box (which has two locks) contains another cardboard box that has a seven-layered plastic envelope, which has the question paper, Imtiyaz Alam, the centre superintendent at Oasis School told Indian Express.

“The entire unpacking process happens in front of officials and two students who are selected randomly,” he said.

Alam further told the newspaper, “We were told by EOU officials that the stickers around the aluminium boxes were not uniform, and the patterns of latches also differed. Also, the seven-layered envelope had a breach at one end and appeared to have been cut.”

Speaking to NDTV, Haque said the courier service in charge of transporting the question paper apparently did not follow the proper procedure, as hinted by the investigating officers.

The Blue Dart courier is tasked with delivering the question papers from Jharkhand’s Ranchi to Hazaribagh and then to the State Bank of India (SBI). These papers are kept in lockers at designated SBI banks.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the probe into the alleged NEET paper leak case. It remains to be seen what details will emerge as the central agency proceeds with its investigation.