NEW DELHI: In a first for the Common Admission Test (CAT), the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) have announced the use of mobile phone jammers at select exam centers as a security measure. The CAT 2024 is scheduled for November 24 and will be conducted in three sessions.
The decision to deploy jammers is likely in response to rising concerns over exam malpractices in national-level competitive exams, according to Hemang Panchmatia, programme director at a leading coaching institute.
A total of 3.29 lakh candidates have registered for CAT 2024, slightly up from last year’s 3.28 lakh. The 2023 registrations had seen a 30% increase compared to the previous year, crossing the 3-lakh mark for the first time, although only 2.88 lakh candidates actually appeared for the test. IIM-Calcutta is the organizing institute for CAT 2024.
Manoj Tiwari, director of IIM Mumbai, highlighted the growth of the Indian economy, noting that despite geopolitical challenges, sectors like manufacturing, logistics, and services are expanding, creating a need for more trained professionals to manage operations. “With the economy continuing to thrive, we can expect an increase in the number of CAT aspirants in the coming years,” he said.
