Mizoram Governor General (Retd) V.K. Singh recently highlighted the integrity and transparency of examination processes within the armed forces, contrasting them with recent allegations of irregularities in civilian competitive examinations. Speaking at the ‘Sena Samvad’ programme at the Manekshaw Centre, attended by students and dignitaries including Bihar Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain, Singh emphasized that issues like paper leaks, which have plagued exams such as NEET-UG, are non-existent in the Army and Air Force due to established systems designed to uphold fairness.
His comments come in light of the cancellation of the NEET-UG examination held on May 3, prompted by claims of a question paper leak. The Central Bureau of Investigation has since made several arrests related to this incident, with the National Testing Agency planning a re-examination for June 21.
Gen Singh pointed out that while competitive examinations exist for military recruitment, the armed forces maintain rigorous institutional mechanisms that ensure their integrity. “A paper of NEET exam may get leaked, but in Army, paper leak doesn’t happen, and it doesn’t happen in the Air Force. We have devised systems which are absolutely fair. You can’t have a fairer system than that,” he remarked.
The Governor elaborated on the military’s examination processes, noting that answer sheets are evaluated using a structured method whereby each evaluator assesses only one specific question across all candidates. This model minimizes subjectivity, ensuring uniformity and the highest standards of transparency.
In addition to the procedural aspects, Gen Singh emphasized the fundamental values that characterize the armed forces, including fairness, discipline, motivation, and a commitment to national service. He described the mutual trust between officers and soldiers as vital to the military’s function, asserting that this trust empowers the forces to operate cohesively and effectively.
The ‘Sena Samvad’ session aimed to engage youth with the principles and functions of the armed forces, reinforcing confidence in the integrity of military institutions. Gen Singh’s remarks highlighted the juxtaposition between the military’s examination systems and those of civilian tests, which have faced scrutiny, underscoring efforts to maintain merit, discipline, and national service as core tenets of the armed forces. The event concluded with a call to recognize the structured frameworks that uphold these values within the military.
