Artificial intelligence (AI) can support the process of preparing question papers for national entrance examinations, but it cannot independently replace human expertise, IIT Madras Director Veezhinathan Kamakoti has said, emphasising that expert review remains indispensable at every stage of examination preparation.Speaking on the evolving role of AI in examination systems, Kamakoti said AI could generate potential questions, but those questions would still require rigorous scrutiny by subject experts before they could be used in an actual examination.“I do not think AI can independently set a question paper. AI may be able to generate questions, but someone still has to review them,” he said.His remarks come at a time when education institutions and examination bodies across the country are increasingly exploring AI-driven tools for academic and administrative functions. However, Kamakoti cautioned that relying solely on AI for a national-level entrance examination would not be appropriate.
Human oversight essential in multilingual examinations
To highlight how difficult it was for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), Kamakoti highlighted that the test is conducted in 12 different languages. He mentioned that the quality control was necessary in such situations due to the reason that translating the questions from one language to another should not change their meanings.“NEET is very inclusive in that sense. It is conducted in 12 languages, so someone has to verify the translations as well. AI can certainly assist with translation, but someone must carefully examine the translations,” he said.The comments highlight one of the biggest challenges in India’s examination ecosystem, maintaining consistency and accuracy across multiple languages while ensuring fairness for millions of candidates.
AI can complement, not replace, examination experts
Based on Kamakoti’s observation, AI should not be considered a replacement for academic expertise but, instead, should be considered an enabler technology. Although AI systems can be used to facilitate some activities such as generation of questions, translation, and content processing, decision-making on issues such as quality of the questions, difficulty level, accuracy in terms of facts and linguistics must remain in the hands of academic experts and specialists.Furthermore, his observation is consistent with the general philosophy of examination reform, where the use of technology is meant to enhance efficiency and transparency while ensuring academic standards and the integrity of national entrance examinations.In view of the increasing usage of AI in education, Kamakoti’s comments are pertinent and relevant, especially regarding assessments such as those that determine admission into professional programs and that affect the careers of millions of students annually.
