The NEET examination scandal has now reached a stage where reports suggest the Indian Air Force may be used to transport examination papers.
Read that again. The Indian Air Force. Not to defend our skies. Not to monitor hostile aircraft.
Not to protect our borders. But to carry examination papers from one place to another.
I am sure the brave men and women of the Air Force will do an excellent job. They always do. That is not the issue.
The question is this: How corrupt have we become that we need our defence forces to do a simple civilian job?
Once upon a time, examination papers travelled in sealed envelopes. A few officials handled them. Students wrote their exams. Results were announced.
Simple.
Today, question papers seem to require security arrangements that would make a visiting head of state jealous. There are investigations. There are arrests. There are leak allegations. There are committees. There is the CBI.
And now there may be fighter pilots looking down from aircraft and wondering, “I trained for this?”
Imagine the conversation.
“Dad, what did you do in the Air Force today?”
“Son, I delivered Biology.”
“Was the country under attack?”
“Yes. By corruption.”
Of course, if this works, there is no reason to stop.
Next year, perhaps Army officers can supervise examination halls. A colonel stands at the front and shouts, “No talking in the ranks!” Students immediately sit up straighter.
The Navy could evaluate answer sheets. Submarines could carry mark sheets. Commandos could guard staff rooms.
At some point, a student may salute before entering the examination hall.
Meanwhile, what are the civilians doing? The very people entrusted with conducting examinations seem unable to conduct examinations without requiring military assistance.
That should concern us. Because corruption is not merely stealing money. Corruption is when society becomes so dishonest that ordinary systems stop working.
And then extraordinary institutions have to step in.
The saddest part is that twenty two lakh students studied honestly. Millions of parents worried honestly. Teachers taught honestly. Yet a handful of dishonest people have managed to drag one of the country’s most important examinations into a national embarrassment.
And every time that happens, the answer seems to be more security, more surveillance and more intervention.
Perhaps we are asking the wrong question. Instead of asking whether the Air Force can safely deliver the papers, perhaps we should be asking why this government can no longer be trusted to do so.
Because one day we may need our defence forces for what they were actually created to do.
And if that day comes, I hope nobody tells us that they were too busy running our examinations to defend our country. And that’s why we speak Chinese now..!
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Robert Clements is a newspaper columnist and writes a daily column, which has graced the pages of over 60 newspapers and magazines, from a daily column in the Khaleej Times, Dubai, the Morning Star, London, and in nearly every state in India, from The Statesman in Kolkata, to the Kashmir Times in Kashmir to the Trinity Mirror in Chennai.
More muck emerges!
https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/cbse-class-12-osm-tender-two-failed-bids-led-to-relaxation-of-key-conditions-in-third-round-2918876-2026-05-29
Excellent clarity and perspective. Thank you
You are welcome!
Dear Mr. Bob Clements,
Your article highlights the alarming decline of trust in our examination system due to corruption and repeated paper leaks. Deploying defence forces to assist in conducting examinations raises serious questions about the effectiveness of our institutions.
To be frank, a great injustice has been done to the thousands of honest students and parents who have invested their hard work, sacrifices, and hopes in the system. While our country needs strong security, our nation can truly progress only when its public institutions function transparently, efficiently, and with the confidence of the people.
I pray that your article will reach thousands of readers, create greater awareness about what is happening in our country, and encourage every citizen to respond responsibly and uphold the values of integrity and accountability.
With best wishes and prayers.
Thank you Pastor for your very impactful response!
Very well expressed.
If the services of the air force have to be utilized,
it would do our country a lot more good , if they were deployed to transport & guard over ballot boxes. But then, who is concerned about the county?
If this is where education stands, Our future students stand nowhere !!!
Cheating Copying very painful. I never allowed Copying in the theory exam and was threatened many times but Godp protected me. After retirement I served in a private school where Copying was encouraged by owners of the school. I did not agree I was turned out from the school. Mostly children like Copying because they are not taught moral values by the parents. Only in Convent Girls School Jalandhar Cantt where you had some classes lectures in Jalandhar there is no Copying at all. My daughter studied AND MANY MORE STUDENTS WHO WERE IN MY CONTACT IN COLLEGE LATER ON ASSURED ME.
Good to know. Thank you Mr Kukreja!
Indeed we have options !
Dear Mr. Clements, we feel v3ry badabout the way things have gone terribly wrong for the thousands of students who were to write the NEET exams.
Hope some practical solutions will be found to circumvent paper leakages
I hope so too Ancy. Thank you for your response.