The University of Mumbai is planning to spend more than Rs5 crore to modernise its examination system. It will prepare a computerised bank of questions during the year. This will enable it to set question papers without delays.

The university’s senate is meeting on March 18 and 19 to discuss issues related to the examination system. The budget for the modernisation project is expected to be approved at this meeting.

The plans include improving the security of the exam process with measures like photographs of students on mark sheets.

Every year, the university conducts more than 1,000 exams in 650 colleges. This year, the university’s budget is expected to cross Rs300 crore.

“Authorities waste a lot of time pursuing paper setters before exams. We have planned a computerised question bank. Subject teachers will put questions in it and experts can pick questions from it to set the paper,” said a senior official.

Since the university has a centralised assessment system, there are only two centres for assessment of answer papers. The university is planning to decentralise this process and hopes to create around 15-20 centres across its jurisdiction to evaluate papers.

Each assessment centre will function as a workstation and examiners working at the centres will get smart cards to access the place.