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The three major Asian economies each hold tough entry examinations for higher education institutions and for joining the civil service. Japan’s university entrance examination has half a million youth write a tough common test, followed by university-specific exams and interviews. The much-heralded Chinese civil service recruitment has nearly 3.5 million people writing an exam for less than 40,000 positions. The Indian civil service has about 1,000 jobs to be filled and a million students writing the examination. Each of these have their critics and their fault lines, but is recognised as largely fair, efficient and transparent,

At the moment, however, it is the NEET, the National Eligibility‑cum‑Entrance Test, that is in the news. The exam, taken by 2 million students for admission into undergraduate medical and allied courses, is not just an examination. It is a household project. Parents dip into savings, take loans, postpone major expenses, and reorganise family life around a child’s preparation. Students spend years in coaching centres, often away from home, chasing a score that could determine the course of their future.

This is why every controversy surrounding the examination feels personal. It is not merely an administrative failure. It is a breach of trust. For the millions of parents, siblings, and extended family members whose hopes are tied to the outcome, any questions that arise about the integrity of the process impact lives far beyond examination halls. India is facing a crisis not just in one examination, but in the credibility of its examination system........

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