National Testing Agency overhauls examination system and removes 600 experts

The Indian Ministry of Education has announced a major overhaul of the National Testing Agency (NTA) following controversies surrounding the NEET-UG paper leak and errors in UGC-NET examinations. Under the direction of Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi, the agency is removing approximately 600 subject experts and onboarding new professionals to enhance transparency and accountability.

Key reforms include the implementation of a four-tier question paper checking system to improve scrutiny of factual, linguistic, and formatting accuracy. The NTA also plans to expand its administrative workforce by inducting 20 to 25 officials and hiring private-sector specialists in fields such as cybersecurity and psychometrics. To bolster security, the agency's offices will relocate from Okhla to Minto Road on a “war footing,” with security reinforced by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

Simultaneously, the Supreme Court of India is set to hear petitions from groups including the Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA) and the United Doctors’ Front (UDF). These petitioners are seeking the dissolution of the NTA, the establishment of an independent testing body, and a court-monitored CBI probe into recent paper leaks.