NTA revamp: 600 experts out, four-tier paper checks and CISF security ordered

The government has announced a major overhaul of the National Testing Agency’s examination system, including a four-tier question paper checking process, a revamp of its expert team and tighter security at its offices.

The changes come as the NTA faces growing criticism over lapses in the UGC-NET examination and the earlier NEET-UG paper leak controversy. The Education Ministry has directed the agency to strengthen its systems and ensure examinations are conducted securely and fairly.

600 experts removed, new team inducted

The decisions followed a meeting chaired by Education Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday. The minister directed officials to put in place all necessary security and infrastructure measures for the smooth conduct of examinations.

NTA Director General Abhishek Singh subsequently briefed the ministry on the measures taken by the agency, which conducts several major examinations across the country.

According to the Education Ministry, the examination team has been revamped, with 600 experts removed and new experts onboarded.

A four-tier question paper checking system will also be introduced to strengthen scrutiny of examination papers before they are used in examinations.

The ministry said 20 to 25 officials will be inducted over the next two to three weeks, while the agency's further recruitment and induction plan was also reviewed.

NTA office to get CISF security

The NTA is also set to shift its offices to new premises on a "war footing", with security to be reinforced through Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) teams, the ministry said.

Sources said the NTA office in the national capital will be shifted from Okhla to Minto Road.

The security overhaul will extend to the agency's examination-related operations. The ministry said the NTA has been directed to strictly comply with established examination protocols and completely overhaul its confidential operations architecture.

This will include CONOPS architecture, secluded rooms, air-gapped systems and device deposit protocols, with the changes to be implemented on a war footing.

UGC-NET retest triggers fresh criticism

The latest measures follow renewed criticism of the NTA from opposition parties and protesting student groups after the agency announced a retest for three UGC-NET papers on Sunday night.

Student groups have demanded that the NTA be scrapped, arguing that repeated lapses have put students' academic and career plans at risk.

NTA sources, however, said the agency acted in the interests of students. They said internal processes and protocols were being reviewed to ensure examinations are fair and error-free in future.

The agency had received complaints about multiple errors in three UGC-NET papers and subsequently formed a committee to examine the reported lapses.

The committee identified anomalies in the three subjects and recommended that the papers be conducted again in the interest of a fair and error-free examination, the NTA said.

UGC-NET retest dates announced

The retest for the UGC-NET English and Commerce papers will be held on September 9, while the Sociology paper will be conducted on September 10.

The NTA conducted the UGC-NET examination from June 22 to 30 across 87 subjects. The examination is used to determine eligibility for junior research fellowship, appointment as assistant professors and admission to PhD programmes.

The agency said the decision to conduct the three retests followed its review of complaints and was aimed at protecting candidates' interests and strengthening accountability in the examination system.

NEET controversy led to further action

The overhaul also follows the NTA's handling of the NEET-UG paper leak controversy.

The agency terminated 47 officials in July as part of action linked to the controversy. It later removed additional officials, taking the total number of terminations to more than 50.

The NTA has also advertised and begun onboarding professionals for 10 new leadership positions. These include chief technology officer, chief finance officer, chief information security officer, general manager for test security, and general manager for research and development and psychometrics.

Domain specialists from the private sector are also being brought in for specialised areas such as cybersecurity, psychometrics and question paper design.

Audit ordered to identify gaps

The Education Ministry has directed the NTA to conduct a comprehensive audit of its examination processes and submit a report detailing the corrective measures taken.

The ministry said the objective is to ensure strict adherence to examination protocols and strengthen the systems governing confidential examination operations.

The NTA's functioning has also drawn concern from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the RSS.

ABVP national general secretary Virendra Singh Solanki said students' future cannot be compromised and that the NTA must be held accountable.

The latest measures therefore focus on changes to personnel, question paper scrutiny, recruitment, cybersecurity, physical security and confidential examination procedures as the agency works to address the concerns raised over recent examinations.