NEW DELHI – Following the cancellation of the June 2024 University Grants Commission - National Eligibility Test (UGC NET), a new facet of controversy has emerged, with education experts alleging the "reckless" use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in drafting examination questions. The National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for conducting the high-stakes examination, has explicitly denied these claims, asserting that robust human oversight processes are in place for question paper generation.

The UGC NET examination, held on June 18, 2024, for over 900,000 candidates across India, was subsequently cancelled by the Ministry of Education on June 19, 2024, citing concerns over the "integrity of the examination." While the Ministry initiated a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the broader integrity issues, the allegations surrounding AI's role in question setting have brought technological ethics in assessment to the forefront.

Education experts have pointed to specific instances within the question papers that they suggest exhibit characteristics consistent with AI generation without adequate human review. These characteristics reportedly include:

  • Repetitive phrasing across multiple questions.
  • Generic or superficial question construction lacking depth.
  • Potential for "AI hallucinations" or factually questionable content in some options.
  • An overall lack of the nuanced language typically associated with expertly crafted academic assessments.

Critics suggest that if AI tools were indeed employed, they might have been used as a primary generation mechanism rather than as a supportive tool for human experts, leading to quality deficiencies. The concerns highlight a potential over-reliance on emerging technologies in critical educational processes without establishing comprehensive validation and quality assurance frameworks.

In response to these allegations, the NTA has issued a firm denial. Officials from the agency have reiterated their stance that all question papers undergo a multi-stage, rigorous process involving subject matter experts, academic committees, and stringent moderation protocols. The NTA maintains that human experts are solely responsible for finalizing questions, ensuring accuracy, relevance, and adherence to examination standards. The agency emphasizes that while technology may assist in various logistical aspects of exam conduct, the intellectual content generation remains firmly under human control and scrutiny.

The UGC NET is a crucial examination conducted to determine eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and appointment as Assistant Professor in Indian universities and colleges. Its cancellation has affected a large number of aspiring researchers and academicians, prompting calls for greater transparency and accountability in the examination process.

Moving forward, the Ministry of Education's CBI probe is expected to investigate all aspects related to the integrity of the June 2024 UGC NET. While the investigation continues, the allegations regarding AI's role are likely to spark broader discussions within the educational sector about the ethical integration and oversight of artificial intelligence in high-stakes assessment environments. The NTA is expected to announce a revised schedule for the re-examination in due course.