NTA Under Scrutiny: Controversies and Future Reforms

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is embroiled in controversy due to alleged irregularities in its exams, including NEET-UG and UGC-NET. A recent leadership change and a high-level review panel are setting the stage for potential structural and functional reforms within the seven-year-old organization.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is currently at the center of a storm over alleged irregularities in its high-stakes competitive exams, particularly NEET-UG and UGC-NET. This comes amid a change in the agency's leadership last week, further intensifying scrutiny.

Founded in 2017 as an autonomous testing organization under the Education Ministry, the NTA's origins trace back to the National Education Policy of 1986 and subsequent recommendations by the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) directors in 2010. The agency follows the model of the US-based Educational Testing Service (ETS).

The NTA oversees major examinations, including JEE-Main for engineering, NEET-UG for medicine, and CUET for undergraduate admissions, with over 50 lakh candidates appearing annually. The agency came under fire this year for awarding contentious grace marks to NEET candidates and handling exam leaks. Currently, a high-level panel is reassessing the NTA's examination process, data security protocols, and organizational structure, with a report expected within two months.

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