The University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed varsities and higher educational institutions to install jammers in the examination centre to check the use of unfair means.
In 2016, the government had allowed the statutory examination conducting bodies to deploy low powered jammers in examination halls in order to prevent use of unfair means through radio frequency based devices.
The UGC in a letter to vice-chancellors and college principals said, “You must ensure adherence to provision of government’s policy on jammers in your university or college.”
It has further specified the classroom jammer model, EC-CRJ-6B5, saying that is has been successfully evaluated through the lab tests and field trials by a board of officers. The UGC suggested that the jammer model should be used at places where there is no Base Transceiver Station (BTS) within 100 metres of the site.
“Performance of jammers deployed in each examination centre will be verified before commencement of examination as effectiveness of jammers depends on various factors like its power output, signal strength of BTS, traffic load on BTS at a given point of time, distance of jammer from BTS, sensitivity of receiver, terrain, topography and line of sight etc,” the commission said.
The letter also said that the actual deployment of jammers will require prior permission of Secretary (Security) in terms of the jammer policy of the government.
The government enterprises Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) and Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), have been authorised for supply of low powered jammers for deployment in examination halls, on rental basis.
As per the policy, inviting open tender from unauthorised manufacturers is not allowed and will be treated as violation of norms.