Government tightens norms on use of scribes by persons with disabilities in competitive exams

NEW DELHI: The government has tightened norms on use of scribes in competitive examinations for persons with disabilities (PwDs), making it compulsory for bodies conducting tests linked to employment and admission to professional courses — like IIT-JEE, NEET, CAT and civil services — to create their own scribe pools within two years and phase out the option of candidate’s bringing their “own scribe” to prevent exploitation of the exam process.

Going forward examining agencies, such as UPSC, NTA and UGC, have to provide technological aids like software-enabled laptops/desktops, Braille/large print, or recording devices as the first option to PwDs to take the exams. The “own scribe” provision has been allowed as a “last resort” until an examining body’s “pool of scribes” is ready for applicants who do not opt for the use of technology.

Moreover, the social justice ministry’s department of empowerment of PwD has allowed the use of scribes by examining bodies only in cases where necessary technological support sought by a candidate is unavailable or in cases where due to the nature of disability there is requirement of a scribe.

For instance, in case of PwDs in the category of blindness, locomotor disability (both arms only) and cerebral palsy, the facility of scribe, reader or lab assistant may be given on production of valid disability certificate or UDID card.

In the case of all other specified disabilities, the facility will be provided on production of a certificate after medical examination by chief medical officer, civil surgeon or medical superintendent of a govt healthcare institution.

These guidelines, in line with recent Supreme Court directives, apply to all candidates, who due to their disability, face functional limitations in writing an examination, irrespective of the nature or extent of their disability. These guidelines will not apply to regular school (board)/college/university academic exams.

“The provision of ‘own scribe’ has been identified as a significant vulnerability in maintaining integrity and fairness of the examination process. Instances of malpractice, including collusion between candidates and their privately arranged scribes, have been observed by various examining bodies, where scribes wrote answers independently without adequate dictation, thereby undermining the examination’s credibility,” according to the guidelines.

With concerns being raised by a section regarding problems candidates may face during implementation of the guidelines, the department’s secretary Rajesh Aggarwal said, “We are in touch with all stakeholders and it will be ensured that no candidate is adversely impacted.”