I am writing this post today with a heavy heart and a sense of disbelief. A recent news article has shed light on a shocking practice related to the BITSAT 2023 examination. Certain 'agents' are reportedly offering to solve the BITSAT paper for candidates, promising scores over 300, which is typically enough to secure a BTech seat in Computer Science at the prestigious BITS Pilani. The price for this service? A staggering sum ranging from Rs 12 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.
These agents claim to have arrangements with exam center owners, primarily in Delhi-NCR or Bengaluru. They propose to solve the paper on behalf of the candidate through some "backend" maneuvering, and secure a seat for them in one of the BITS campuses – Pilani, Hyderabad, or Goa.
BITSAT 2023 is scheduled to be held twice this year. The first session was from May 21 to 26 and the second, from June 18 to 22. Candidates have the option to write both exams, with the best score of the two being considered for the merit list. The exam is highly competitive, with over 2 lakh students participating annually. The cut-off generally ranges from 240-270 out of 360 for most BTech programmes. For the highly sought-after Computer Science course, admissions stop at a score of 300 or even higher.
This news comes as a shock, especially considering that BITS Pilani recently secured the 25th rank in NIRF and carries a prestigious tag in the country. It raises serious questions about the integrity of the admission process and the credibility of the education system. While it's the agents who are manipulating the system, the institutions also need to take responsibility and implement stringent SOPs to prevent such malpractices.
This incident has come to light, but it makes one wonder if such practices are common in other universities as well. It's a stark reminder of the dark side of our education system, where education seems to be on sale. It raises a critical question - what are the capabilities of graduates who secure seats through such practices? Are they truly deserving, or are they just beneficiaries of a corrupt system?
It's high time that we, as a society, reflect on these issues and work towards ensuring the sanctity of our education system. We must strive to create an environment where merit is rewarded, and every student gets a fair chance to prove their worth.
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