Former Education Secretary Anil Swarup said that technology can stop examination paper leaks if the implementation process is executed correctly [1].

The discussion highlights the ongoing struggle to maintain academic integrity in large-scale testing systems. As education boards increasingly rely on digital tools to secure sensitive materials, the balance between technological capability and human oversight remains a critical vulnerability.

Speaking in an interview with Shereen Bhan on CNBC TV18, Swarup said he addressed the systemic failures that lead to security breaches. He pointed to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) as a primary example of how a system can recover from a crisis by identifying specific loopholes [1].

"What did we do after the 2018 CBSE paper leak? We fixed the process," Swarup said [1].

Swarup said that the board revamped its examination system after the leak occurred in 2018 [1]. The overhaul involved deploying technology to make leaks more difficult, though he noted that the tools themselves are not a cure-all. The effectiveness of these security measures depends on the rigor of their application, a factor he described as the real test of the system [1].

CBSE chairperson Anita Karwal was also part of the discussion regarding these security improvements [1]. The focus of the revamp was to ensure that the process of transporting and storing papers was no longer susceptible to the same vulnerabilities that existed during the previous breach [1].

Swarup said that technology serves as a strengthener for exam security rather than a standalone solution. He suggested that the human element in the execution phase is where most security protocols either succeed or fail [1].

“"What did we do after the 2018 CBSE paper leak? We fixed the process."”

The transition from physical to digital security in high-stakes testing reduces the window for manual tampering but introduces new risks. By focusing on the 'process' rather than just the software, the CBSE approach suggests that systemic security requires a hybrid model of technological barriers and strict administrative accountability to prevent organized leaks.