After concerns were expressed by the Union Cabinet Secretariat, the UGC has written to all Universities saying that inviting open bids for jammers from "unauthorised manufacturers" is a violation of norms and asked them to follow the government policy in this regard.
The University Grants Commission said that statutory examination conducting bodies have been permitted to deploy low powered jammers to prevent unfair means used through radio frequency based devices by examinees.
It, however, added that under the present jammer policy Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) are the two entities from which these jammers can be procured for examinations.
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"Inviting open tender from unauthorised manufacturers is a violation of the policy of Government of India in this regard," the letter written by UGC secretary Jaspal S Sandhu said.
Asking Universities to follow norms ahead of the approaching exam season, the UGC also said that prior approval of Secretary (security), Union Cabinet Secretariat is necessary regarding the deployment and procurement of jammers.
Last month, the Union Cabinet Secretariat had written to UGC that "proliferation of jammers is a serious security concern and inviting open tenders for procurement of jammers from unauthorised sources is a violation of the policy."
UGC had also been asked to provide details of examinations and deployment of jammers to ECIL and BEL so that a realistic assessment of number of jammers required can be made.
