Campus Times | Lucknow 

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) is set to pilot a tablet-based system for delivering question papers at examination centres, in a move aimed at strengthening exam security and reducing the risks associated with conventional paper-based distribution.

The pilot is expected to be conducted during a carry-over examination at the universitys Centre for Advanced Studies in the coming weeks. Under the proposed mechanism, question papers will be delivered digitally to university-provided tablets and decrypted only on the devices at the examination centre.

AKTU Vice-Chancellor Prof J.P. Pandey said the trial would assess whether encrypted digital delivery can make the examination process more secure while reducing the logistical challenges involved in transporting and handling printed question papers.

If the pilot delivers the expected results, the university is likely to consider extending the technology to regular examinations in the future.

Entry rules to be tightened

As part of the revamped examination protocol, candidates will be required to reach their respective centres at least 30 minutes before the scheduled commencement of an examination.

Entry will be stopped once the Controller of Examinations decrypts the question paper at the centre. The measure is intended to eliminate the possibility of candidates entering after the examination material has been made accessible.

Centre superintendents will also be required to submit a digital affidavit confirming that no candidate was permitted to enter the examination venue after the decryption process.

Students to put AKTU portals through security tests

Alongside the examination reforms, AKTU is planning technology-focused hackathons in which students will be invited to examine the security of the universitys ERP and on-screen marking platforms.

Participants will look for potential vulnerabilities, loopholes and weak points that could expose the systems to unauthorised access or disrupt their functioning. The initiative is also expected to give students practical exposure to cybersecurity and digital system testing.

According to the university, feedback and findings from these exercises could help strengthen its internal platforms and improve their reliability for students, faculty members and other stakeholders.

More university services moving online

AKTU has also expanded its ERP-based digital ecosystem, allowing students across Uttar Pradesh to access several university services remotely. The platform enables students to raise grievances and complete official processes online, reducing the need for repeated visits to the universitys Lucknow and Noida campuses.

The tablet-based examination pilot and proposed cybersecurity hackathons are part of AKTUs broader push towards technology-driven examination and administrative systems, with the university seeking to combine greater transparency with faster and more secure digital processes.