LUCKNOW, May 10 -- Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) is introducing major reforms for its semester examinations to ensure fair and transparent processes. While the exams began on Thursday, authorities have implemented a QR-based attendance system, reduced the size of answer copies, and plan to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) for checking. This QR code information is saved on the university's cloud storage. When a student arrives at the examination centre, authorities will take their photograph to mark attendance. "The photograph at the examination centre will be matched with the photograph in the QR code in real-time ensuring no duplicate candidate or anybody pretending to be someone else appears in the examination," said vice chancellor Prof JP Pandey. Prof Pandey also shared that the university has established a control room where CCTV surveillance of all examination centres is being checked. In a pilot project aimed at paper conservation, AKTU is reducing the pages in its answer copies. "This year as a pilot project we are reducing eight pages from the answer copies. This means instead of a 32-page answer copy a student will receive only a 24-page answer copy," Pandey said. Students may opt for a 'B' copy if needed initially. If the pilot is successful, the university is expected to save over 148 lakh pages per semester. With approximately 3.5 lakh students writing the semester examination twice a year, this initiative is expected to help in paper conservation. Controller of examination, Deepak Nagaria, stated that as another pilot project, the university plans to randomly get answer copies for some courses and subjects checked using AI tools. This technological initiative is expected to accelerate processing. "This semester we plan to get the results announced within one month of the examination," Nagaria confirmed. htc...