NTA, AICTE audit government institutes to build secure CBT exam network
NTA and AICTE are auditing government institutes to map IT and physical infrastructure for setting up secure computer-based testing centres.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has initiated a nationwide exercise to identify and map infrastructure at government-run technical institutions that could host computer-based tests (CBT). The move is part of a broader plan to transition high-stakes entrance examinations, including NEET, to an online format.
To carry out this exercise, the NTA has enlisted the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). In an August 31 communication, AICTE asked vice-chancellors and heads of its approved government institutes to submit a detailed assessment of their facilities by September 15.
The audit is designed to create a network of what the NTA calls "standard testing centres" (STCs). These hubs are intended to be secure, geographically distributed, and capable of handling large-scale online examinations.
Institutes have been asked to provide granular details on their technical ecosystem. This includes the number of computer labs, the total count of functional nodes, processor specifications, and operating system versions. The questionnaire also covers physical security features such as partitions and privacy screens on workstations.
Connectivity is a key focus. Institutions must report on their Local Area Network (LAN) cabling type, network switches, and server room availability. Details on the primary internet service provider, connection type, speed, and the presence of a redundant backup link are also required.
Beyond hardware, the audit assesses power backup capabilities and CCTV coverage across labs and corridors. The physical layout of campuses is being reviewed to manage candidate flow, with questions on dedicated spaces for registration, biometric checks, and frisking. The availability of separate entry and exit routes, strongrooms, and control rooms is also being verified.
Accessibility is part of the assessment, with institutes asked to confirm the presence of ground-floor labs, ramps, and accessible toilets for persons with disabilities. Support staff strength, including IT faculty and lab personnel, along with details of annual maintenance contracts, must also be declared.
Institutes are required to state their availability on weekends, holidays, and semester breaks. The audit also looks at future potential, asking for estimates of vacant ground-floor space that could be converted into new labs and the feasibility of adding more computing nodes within existing footprints.