The men in white have come under a lot of criticism of late for some inaccurate decisions during matches. In a bid to improve standards, last week the Board of Control for Cricket in India put 120 of its umpires through a refresher course and examination.

"It is a systematic effort to have better umpires representing India," said a BCCI official, adding "the present 40-member Elite Panel would be cut down to half its number after the results of the examination."

Among those who attended the three-day course at the Wankhede stadium were senior umpires A.V. Jayaprakash and K Hariharan, who both are on the ICC panel of umpires.

"I would not consider this as an exam; this is a refresher course for all umpires," said Jayaprakash, who has officiated in 13 Tests and 27 One-Day Internationals.

"The Board through this course will be aiming at uniform interpretation of the playing conditions and the law all over India. We have seen in various matches different ways of interpretation by the umpires with regard to the number of overs to be bowled in a day, extension of time, loss of time.

"Cricket as a game has changed and so have the rules; we as the umpires need to know the rules and interpret them as they are meant to be."

Jayaprakash insisted the examination was a routine process and expressed happiness with the way it was conducted.

"The situations given were not ones that are never faced, but those common but which have different interpretations. The development of umpires was long due. It has now been taken up by the BCCI. It is good to raise the standards of umpiring, which will also increase the level of consistency amongst the umpires," added the Karnataka umpire.

Jayaprakash, whose first assignment was the One-Day International between India and Sri Lanka at Mumbai in 1997-98, was of the opinion that like players umpires also need to fight for their places.

"Since the 1980 code there have been amendments made in 2003, regarding the loss of time and various other aspects of the game. The umpires need to be updated with the laws and such programmes help.  There are 120 umpires from all over India who have come from different regions and places, so this exam is necessary for uniformity," he said.

Summing up the exercise, he added: "I would consider the senior panelists like V.K.Ramaswamy and S.K.Bansal educating us and not examining."

Like Jayaprakash, Hariharan too lauded the BCCI's efforts to raise umpiring standards in their country.

"It is necessary for the umpires to upgrade themselves. This exam by the BCCI is a positive step towards updating the umpires and also making sure there are quality umpires representing India," he said.

Hariharan, who has officiated in 15 One-Day Internationals and twice as television umpire for Tests, added: "Grading is absolutely essential. The evaluation is divided into three parts - medical fitness, practical test and viva. The way markings are going to be done is essentially for the Board to decide."

Saying he is "personally very happy with the way the exams have gone", he informed that the questions asked were "very practical situations, which we have faced while umpiring".

"Everything has been done systematically by the Board. Today umpiring is a profession and it is essential for umpires to keep upgrading themselves."

Hariharan said he watches a lot of match videos in his leisure time "to try and correct where I went wrong".

"While watching a cricket match I make it a point to give a decision before the umpire gives it, so then I can correct myself if I go wrong, and learn from it.

"This is my way of improving umpiring. All the umpires should do that on their own to help make them better umpires," he added.

With former Indian Test spinner S Venkataraghavan retiring from the ICC Elite Panel, it vital that Jayaprakash and Hariharan fare well in the examination as one of them will be named to take his place.