Recently, the Supreme Court strongly criticized the government’s approach to the National Testing Agency (NTA). The Court noted that every time there is a massive leak, the government simply forms a new “expert committee” and forgets the old one. India cannot play with its youth’s future by outsourcing national exams to private computer centers. We desperately need permanent, in-house technical experts and a rock-solid, leak-proof system within the NTA.

1. The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act prescribes a maximum fine of ₹1 lakh for organized syndicates involved in paper leaks.
2. The K. Radhakrishnan committee recommended a “Digi-Exam” system leveraging biometrics and encrypted digital paper delivery to testing centers.
3. The Supreme Court has emphasized the need for permanent institutional expertise within the NTA to avoid relying solely on temporary, ad-hoc task forces.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only    (b) 2 and 3 only    (c) 1 and 3 only    (d) 1, 2 and 3

• Statement 1 — Incorrect (the trap): The Act treats paper leaks as a severe organized crime. It prescribes a massive fine of up to ₹1 crore (not just ₹1 lakh) for syndicates and corrupt service providers.
• Statement 2 — Correct: The K. Radhakrishnan panel strongly suggested the “Digi-Exam” model to eliminate the physical transport of printed papers, which is where most leaks traditionally occur.
• Statement 3 — Correct: The Supreme Court recently stressed the need for “meaningful continuity” and institutionalization of reforms, warning against knee-jerk reactions and hopping between different expert committees.