Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) today submitted a report to the government on the disruption of the Computer-based Common Admission Test (CAT) which continued to be affected for the fourth day in a row, adding to the woes of hundreds of IIM aspirants.
Scores of students complained of technical glitches at various test labs in Lucknow, Bangalore and Bhopal today. They failed to appear in the test, being conducted by an American firm Prometric in a staggered manner over 10 days.
"I have been visiting the test centre everyday since Saturday. But I am unable to appear in the test as some or other problem continues," a student in Lucknow said.
The issue was raised in Parliament as opposition BJP criticised the way the prestigious entrance for admission into IIMs was being conducted. The government said it is concerned over the issue.
"Steps should have been taken much prior to the holding of the examination to ensure that such kind of problems should not have happened. We are very concerned about it as government," HRD Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters.
Sibal had yesterday sought a factual report from the IIMs on the issue from IIM Ahemdabad, which is the nodal institute for conduct of the test.
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The report submitted by the institutes said about 18 per cent of candidates, who were scheduled to appear the test in the first three days, could not write it.
Sibal said 8,297 of 45,367 candidates have been disturbed during the first three days of the test that started on Saturday.
"This is a very large percentage," he said.
The report furnished by the IIMs said 2,022 candidates were disturbed on Saturday while the number rose to 4,292 on Sunday. As many as 1,983 candidates were unable to appear in the test yesterday.
The Prometric has said those students, who could not appear in the test, will be given chance to sit in the test during the test period that ends on December 7.
IIM-Ahmedabad Director Prof Samir Barua has said if required, the test could be extended beyond the deadline.
The IIMs have already said the decision to conduct the test through computers was taken by them.
Sibal said the government has no involvement in the conduct of the test.
"We will only request them to make sure that such things do not happen next time and they conduct an inquiry into it," he said.
Deputy leader of BJP Sushma Swaraj said the development was a shock for several talented students who had come all prepared to face the examination. "Mouse has eaten the CAT," she said.
About 2.41 lakh students are scheduled to appear in the test for admission into seven IIMs and a few other B-Schools.