Panel Reformasi Rekomendasikan Ujian CBT Guna Atasi Kebocoran NEET

Sistem ujian berbasis komputer (CBT) dinilai mampu mengeliminasi hampir 95 persen celah kerawanan yang memicu kebocoran dokumen ujian National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). Reformasi struktural ini ditargetkan membawa perubahan mendasar pada tubuh National Testing Agency (NTA) dalam 8 hingga 10 bulan ke depan.

Pernyataan tersebut disampaikan oleh Pankaj Bansal, salah satu dari tujuh anggota panel reformasi yang dipimpin K Radhakrishnan, dalam sebuah wawancara bersama Hindustan Times yang dipublikasikan pada Selasa, 26 Mei 2026. Bansal mendesak adanya hukuman berat bagi mafia ujian demi mengembalikan kepercayaan publik.

Panel reformasi telah bekerja intensif selama enam bulan dan menyerahkan 95 rekomendasi utama. Penataan lembaga penyeleksi ujian ini dinilai membutuhkan waktu karena adanya kelompok mafia yang terus mencari celah kelengahan sistem keamanan.

"There is a problem, and that must be acknowledged. But students and families deserve the full, holistic picture, not a one-sided narrative.Our panel worked deeply for nearly six months and submitted 95 recommendations. If you include supplementary suggestions, the number goes beyond 100. A large number of these have already been implemented. But reforms of this scale cannot happen overnight. Institutional change takes time." kata Pankaj Bansal, Anggota Panel Reformasi NTA.

Bansal menambahkan bahwa upaya perubahan regulasi dan sistem pengawasan ujian ini akan terus dikembangkan secara bertahap. Hal tersebut dikarenakan sindikat ilegal di luar lembaga selalu mengincar kelemahan prosedur yang sedang diperbaiki.

"There is also an exam mafia that constantly tries to identify vulnerabilities even as reforms are being implemented. That is why this has to be viewed as an evolving process." ujar Pankaj Bansal, Anggota Panel Reformasi NTA.

Ada tiga poin pembenahan besar yang mendesak untuk diterapkan pada internal NTA saat ini. Rekomendasi tersebut mencakup hukuman maksimal bagi pelaku kecurangan, penerapan ujian berbasis komputer, serta penguatan operasi rahasia pra-ujian.

"Three things. First, punishment for the exam mafia must be of the highest order and delivered swiftly. It must create a principle so strong that no one dares repeat this. Second, our report strongly recommended computer-based testing. Pen-and-paper exams involving over 2.2 million candidates create vulnerabilities at every stage — printing, transporting and securing papers across thousands of centres. CBT solves nearly 95% of those problems because encrypted papers can reach centres just hours before the test. Third, confidential operations — both before paper-setting and during candidate verification at centres — need to become much stronger." kata Pankaj Bansal, Anggota Panel Reformasi NTA.

NTA dilaporkan telah mengeksekusi rekomendasi penunjukan pejabat setingkat tambahan sekretaris untuk memimpin lembaga. Posisi Direktur Jenderal NTA kini diisi oleh Abhishek Singh yang berpengalaman dalam proyek tata kelola digital skala besar.

"Absolutely. One key recommendation was that a senior officer of the rank of additional secretary or above should lead NTA. That has happened. Now you have Abhishek Singh as NTA DG, who has already demonstrated capability in large-scale digital governance projects. He has only recently taken charge, and by then this year’s exam cycle was already underway." ujar Pankaj Bansal, Anggota Panel Reformasi NTA.

Keputusan pemindahan format NEET menuju CBT dipastikan menjadi langkah reformasi struktural utama yang ditempuh pemerintah. Perubahan ini diyakini mengakhiri pola kecurangan internal yang melibatkan staf kontraktual.

"I am very confident students will see fundamental shifts over the next 8-10 months. The decision to move NEET to CBT has effectively been taken, and that is a major structural reform." kata Pankaj Bansal, Anggota Panel Reformasi NTA.

Penyelidik sebelumnya mendeteksi potensi kolusi orang dalam atas kebocoran soal NEET-UG 2026. Guna mengatasinya, panel menyarankan penguatan tenaga kerja tetap serta pengalihan lokasi ujian ke fasilitas milik pemerintah.

"We recommended that NTA should build a stronger permanent workforce instead of relying heavily on contractual staff. We also recommended institutionalising 10 core functions and building a strong internal technology team.If an insider is found guilty, the punishment must be exemplary. That sends a message everywhere." ujar Pankaj Bansal, Anggota Panel Reformasi NTA.

Langkah pembatalan ujian NEET-UG tahun ini juga disebut menjadi peringatan keras bagi para orang tua murid. Bansal menilai tidak ada jalan pintas yang dapat membantu siswa dalam seleksi pendidikan.

"We also recommended conducting exams increasingly in government premises so the system depends more on accountable public employees than external operators. Cancellation of NEET-UG this year also sent a strong message to parents and students paying huge sums for leaked papers: shortcuts do not help in life." kata Pankaj Bansal, Anggota Panel Reformasi NTA.

Terkait kesiapan infrastruktur CBT untuk kapasitas masif, Bansal menegaskan tantangan teknis seperti enkripsi backend dan stabilitas jaringan dapat diselesaikan. Panel bahkan mengusulkan penyediaan mobil laboratorium CBT portabel demi menjangkau wilayah terpencil.

"It is absolutely possible if preparation is systematic. There are two layers — backend encryption and security standards, which can match global benchmarks, and physical infrastructure like functioning devices, power backup, keyboards and network stability. These are solvable implementation challenges." ujar Pankaj Bansal, Anggota Panel Reformasi NTA.

Beban infrastruktur dinilai akan berkurang jika pengujian dilakukan melalui beberapa tahapan dan pembagian giliran (shift). Metode multi-tahap ini sengaja dirancang untuk menciptakan penilaian yang lebih adil.

"We have also proposed futuristic solutions like mobile CBT vans to reach underserved areas and ensure no child is excluded because of geography or access constraints. If multi-stage and multi-shift testing is adopted, the infrastructure burden reduces significantly." kata Pankaj Bansal, Anggota Panel Reformasi NTA.

Penerapan pembatasan jumlah kesempatan ujian juga diusulkan untuk menjaga keseimbangan aspek keadilan. Bansal menepis anggapan bahwa pembagian giliran ujian akan merusak standarisasi kesetaraan nilai.

"These reforms should not be viewed only through the lens of paper leaks. This is about balancing merit, inclusivity and fairness." ujar Pankaj Bansal, Anggota Panel Reformasi NTA.

Menurutnya, sistem normalisasi nilai hasil ujian multi-shift sudah lazim diterapkan secara global. Penerapan sistem pengujian yang progresif dipandang lebih penting daripada mempertahankan argumen konvensional.

"Multi-stage testing reduces pressure on one high-stakes day and creates a more holistic assessment framework. As for attempt limits, fairness requires balance. Unlimited attempts create distortions." kata Pankaj Bansal, Anggota Panel Reformasi NTA.

Pihak komite mengklaim telah menampung lebih dari 37.000 masukan dari berbagai elemen masyarakat, termasuk orang tua dan pakar pengujian. Konsultasi fisik dan digital dijalankan secara serius untuk merumuskan reformasi nasional tersebut.

"And let me be blunt: the argument that multiple shifts make the exam “non-uniform” is flawed logic. Who in the world says a test stops being uniform because it is held in two shifts? That is primitive thinking. Normalisation happens globally. We are not inventing something new. We need progressive testing systems, not regressive excuses." ujar Pankaj Bansal, Anggota Panel Reformasi NTA.

Bansal memahami kekecewaan mendalam yang dirasakan para siswa akibat kasus kebocoran dokumen paper ujian ini. Kendati demikian, ia memastikan proses eksekusi pembenahan sistem sedang berjalan di bawah pengawasan Kementerian Pendidikan India.

"We understand their pain deeply. Our committee received more than 37,000 suggestions through digital submissions and physical consultations. We met students, parents, school leaders, state authorities and testing experts. This was not symbolic work; it was serious national reform. Can anyone guarantee that no mistake will ever happen again? No system in the world can make that promise." kata Pankaj Bansal, Anggota Panel Reformasi NTA.

Pihak penegak hukum dipastikan bakal menyeret seluruh oknum yang bertanggung jawab atas tindak kriminal kebocoran soal tersebut ke pengadilan.

"But I am very hopeful. The reforms are real. The intent is real. The implementation is underway. Students should remain optimistic and not lose faith because of criminal actions by a few. Those responsible will face both the law of the land and the law of God." ujar Pankaj Bansal, Anggota Panel Reformasi NTA.

Kementerian Pendidikan India dan NTA berkomitmen mengoptimalkan seluruh sumber daya demi memulihkan integritas sistem seleksi nasional.

"These students are India’s future. Every reform we are pushing is for them, and I am confident NTA and the education ministry will leave no stone unturned to restore trust." kata Pankaj Bansal, Anggota Panel Reformasi NTA.