JEE today: Radio-frequency detectors to check cheating

Kolkata: More than 1.2 lakh candidates are set to appear for the West Bengal Joint Entrance examination across 267 centres on Sunday. The exam opens doors for admission into engineering, technology, pharmacy and architecture courses across various universities and colleges in Bengal. The examination will be conducted in two shifts. The Mathematics paper is scheduled from 11am to 1pm, followed by the Physics and Chemistry paper from 2pm to 4pm.In a bid to curb cheating, the WBJEE board has taken a series of stringent security measures, including the introduction of two-ply carbonless OMR sheets. The press statement issued on Saturday said, "The Board is introducing 2-ply OMR sheets. Once the exam concludes, candidates will submit the Board's official copy to the invigilator but will be permitted to take the second, carbonless copy home for their own records."A specialised external agency has been hired to handle intensive frisking of all candidates using hand-held metal detectors. "To combat high-tech cheating and electronic malpractice, roving observers equipped with Radio Frequency Detectors will be on active duty. One roving observer has been assigned to monitor every small cluster of two to four examination venues," said the statement. A sufficient number of dedicated board observers have been deployed to monitor every single examination venue. The board also noted that several "hidden security measures" are in place to catch fraudulent activity covertly.Candidates have been requested to report to their assigned venues at least one-and-a-half hours before the commencement of the exam. Entry and exit will be heavily restricted while the test is underway. As per security protocols, they are prohibited from bringing mobile phones, writing instruments (including pens), watches and any electronic gadgets into the hall. Only transparent water bottles will be permitted inside.