Investigators say the shortage has fueled an increasingly sophisticated paper leak scandal, linking teachers, middlemen and test center staff. Computer testing closes some of those vulnerabilities. But create others.

Misra says even relatively minor technical glitches can affect candidates in ways that are difficult to quantify.

“A mouse not working is not just about pausing the timer,” he said. “It’s also about disturbing concentration.”

He is also concerned about equity.

He says success in CBT increasingly depends not only on subject knowledge, but also on digital familiarity and opportunities to practice in simulated testing environments, advantages that remain unevenly distributed and may favor students who attend training institutes over those in schools with fewer resources.

Most fundamentally, Misra argues, India’s examination system places too much importance on a single test.

“As long as a single test determines access to scarce opportunities, there will be strong incentives for exam malpractice, regardless of the test format,” he said.

Misra argues that examining agencies need stronger governance through stricter procedures, regular audits, greater accountability and stricter enforcement. It also suggests multiple randomly assigned equivalent quizzes, or localized exams, so that a breach in one location doesn’t jeopardize an entire national exam.

Over time, he believes India should also reduce its reliance on “one-off, high-stakes entrance tests” by creating multiple testing opportunities and broader pathways to higher education.

“If the purpose is to generate a ranked list and match students to institutions,” he said, “maybe we should also think about creating more diversity on both sides.”