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Correspondent

23 August 2024 at 4:29:04 pm

Trust Reset

As the recent protests over the NEET paper leak showed, India’s examination system has reached a point where incremental repairs are no longer enough. The appointment of a high-powered task force on examination reforms, headed by technology pioneer Nandan Nilekani, is therefore not merely an administrative response to the NEET-UG paper leak crisis but a concrete attempt to rebuild confidence in one of the country’s most important public institutions. Examinations are gateways to opportunity,...

Trust Reset

As the recent protests over the NEET paper leak showed, India’s examination system has reached a point where incremental repairs are no longer enough. The appointment of a high-powered task force on examination reforms, headed by technology pioneer Nandan Nilekani, is therefore not merely an administrative response to the NEET-UG paper leak crisis but a concrete attempt to rebuild confidence in one of the country’s most important public institutions. Examinations are gateways to opportunity, social mobility and professional ambition. For millions of students across the country, a competitive examination represents years of sacrifice by families and the possibility of a better future. When question papers leak repeatedly, evaluation systems fail or allegations of manipulation emerge, the resulting damage strikes at the idea of fairness itself. The crisis surrounding NEET-UG exposed uncomfortable vulnerabilities in the country’s examination infrastructure. The resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the subsequent appointment of Pralhad Joshi with additional charge of the ministry underlined the political seriousness of the issue. But political accountability alone cannot fix a structural problem. That is why the composition of the new task force is a move on the right direction. It brings together expertise from technology, space research, intelligence, education administration and logistics. Nilekani’s appointment is particularly significant. The former Infosys chief executive and architect of Aadhaar has experience in building large-scale digital public infrastructure involving hundreds of millions of citizens. The Aadhaar project itself was born out of a similar challenge: how to create a reliable identity system in a country where leakages and duplication weakened welfare delivery. India’s examination system now requires the same kind of thinking. The committee’s mandate to examine the entire examination lifecycle - from question paper creation and distribution to candidate verification, evaluation and results - is the right approach. The problem lies in multiple weak points where human intervention, poor security protocols and outdated processes can create opportunities for malpractice. Technology will inevitably be central to the solution. Artificial intelligence can help detect unusual patterns, blockchain-based verification can strengthen record security and better data systems can improve transparency. But a secure examination system requires independent oversight, professional management, clear accountability and swift punishment for wrongdoing. India’s National Testing Agency was created to bring efficiency and standardisation to public examinations. Its credibility must now be restored through reforms that are visible and trusted by students. The Nilekani task force has been given the difficult job of repairing that trust. The government has chosen a committee led by people with experience of managing complex national systems. It is a sensible first step. The real test will now be whether its recommendations translate into action.

‘Maharashtra Epstein Files’ to hit screens on Oct 2

Mumbai: Come October 2, Maharashtra’s dark secrets known to the Nashik Bhondubaba, Capt. Ashok Eknathrrao Kharat – currently in custody - may now explode on the silver screen.

 

A prominent film director Swaroopp  B. Sawant has announced a new Marathi crime thriller, “Maharashtra Epstein Files” which threatens to rip open the sleazy and exploitative world of Kharat before it started crumbling in March when his murky deeds tumbled into the public domain.

 

An online poster release proclaims the film – presented by Jain Film Production and Matoshri Entertainment World - which has triggered a political quake even before the cameras start rolling in June.

 

Well-known actress and Shiv Sena leader Deepali Sayed claimed today that “political pressures have already started building” on her. “Some women leaders called me up and warned me against playing the role of Rupali Chakankar. This could destroy my political career, and they asked me to wait and reconsider,” said Sayed in a social media post on Thursday.

 

Unfazed, Sayed said she will meet Deputy CM Eknath Shinde and MP Dr. Shrikant Shinde, but is determined to act in the film after studying the role and characterization.

 

The film is being produced by Devendra Bhat, Suryakanth Bhunde and Prashant Kadampure, while Sagarkumar S. Jain is the story writer with screenplay and dialogues by Sanjay Navgire.

 

The director Swaroop B. Sawant was more forthcoming and appeared passionate about the upcoming venture.

 

“This is a fictional film inspired by certain contemporary events. The purpose of the film is to break myths surrounding the fake godmen who exploit people. We aim to shatter ‘andhashraddha’ perpetrated by such elements and promote ‘shraddha’ (faith),” Sawant told The Perfect Voice.

 

He said Sayed will portray the role of the controversial Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Rupali Chakankar, but the plum role of Kharat to be essayed by a big name from Bollywood, which will be revealed next month.

 

“The film will have most other characters played by Hindi film actors… It will convey a social message of ‘Karma’ which  catches up with all. It shall have other popular ingredients of a masala movie – an item number featuring a Bhondubaba gyrating with a nautch girl, a love song on the 'original whistle-blower' and his wife, plus other songs,” smiled Sawant.

 

Hit Poster 

While the film and its fate after the release coinciding with Gandhiji’s birth anniversary is awaited, the eye-catching promotional poster has already become ‘superhit’ in the industry and social media.

 

It shows a mysterious man standing with his back turned, hands clasped behind him and gripping bundles of Rs. 500 notes. He is dressed immaculately in kurta-pyjama and a half-jacket, giving an impression of being a respectable person. However, the yellow crime-scene tape criss-crossing his image gives away the real story.

 

On a wall ahead in a dimly-lit room - akin to a police lockup - are cryptic photos with ‘?’ marks, others referring to ‘Nashik’ and ‘Bhondubaba’, a copper water vessel, a glass of ‘cutting chai’, a bottle of ‘Elish Honey’ (allegedly hawked by Kharat for lakhs of rupees to his unsuspecting victims), and ironically a bookshelf complete the promos.

 

Aking to its tagline – “Now, Everything Will Be Exposed” – but without taking any names, the film poster is like a one-image trailer that vows to yank the curtains off a shocking nexus of blind faith, political power, money muscles, women’s exploitation and social influence, unmasking many a bigwigs.

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