Every year, tens of millions of students around the world sit entrance exams that can shape the course of their lives. With so much at stake, protecting these tests has become as important as conducting them fairly.

A single leaked question paper or an impersonator taking the exam for someone else can undermine months of hard work and shake public trust in the entire selection process.

In India, more than two million students appear for NEET-UG every year, making it one of the world's largest medical entrance exams. Across the globe, countries have developed their own ways to protect such high-stakes tests, with measures that often resemble national security operations.

China's high-tech gaokao

China's gaokao is the country's most important entrance exam. While it is not exclusively for medical admissions, top scores are essential for securing seats in the country's most competitive medical colleges.

The exam's security measures are among the most advanced in the world. Before entering the exam hall, all 13.35 million candidates recently appearing for the test underwent identity verification using facial recognition, fingerprints or iris scans to prevent impersonation.

Radio-frequency jammers and metal detectors are used to detect hidden communication devices, including tiny wireless earpieces. AI-powered cameras monitor exam halls and flag suspicious behaviour such as whispering or repeated glances between candidates.

To prevent misuse of artificial intelligence, major........

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