As per Prometric, the agency that conducted the computer-based Common Admission Test (CAT) 2009, the fiasco that crippled 13 per cent of the 637 centres over the first three days of the exam was due to virus attack.

When questioned about the virus that attacked the systems, Prometric officials refused to share any details. They also did not make it clear how the systems, which were handed over to their team and cleaned in advance, could be infected by a virus on the first day of the test. Speaking at the press conference, Prometric COO Charles Kernan said, “If it was the software, the problems would have been similar across the board, which it was not,”

Officials were also queried on the role of NIIT Limited in conducting CAT. “NIIT is our delivery partner,” was all COO Kernan was willing to say, adding that his company took the responsibility for the fiasco.