In a significant development, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, during today’s winter Parliament session, announced that starting 2025, the National Testing Agency (NTA) will no longer conduct recruitment examinations. Instead, it will focus solely on entrance examinations for higher education institutions. He further stated that the government plans to introduce computer-adaptive testing, a tech-driven approach for entrance examinations, in the future.
Additionally, the Minister revealed that the NTA will undergo restructuring in 2025, with the addition of 10 new posts. He also mentioned ongoing discussions with the Health Ministry regarding whether the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Undergraduate programmes (NEET UG) will be conducted in pen-paper mode or online mode.
The key question now is: What led the education ministry to announce such drastic changes?
Before delving into those issues, let’s first examine the major entrance examinations conducted by the NTA, both for recruitment and higher education institutions.
NTA Exams: Major entrance and recruitment tests
The National Testing Agency is responsible for conducting several national-level entrance examinations for higher education institutions as well as recruitment exams. Here are the major examinations conducted by the agency. NTA conducts several other examinations also apart from these.
Plagued by leaks and lapses: A deep dive into major NTA controversies
The changes announced by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stem from the multiple controversies that have plagued the National Testing Agency (NTA) in recent years. Issues such as paper leaks, impersonation, technical glitches, and lapses in exam security have eroded trust in the system. The NEET UG and UGC NET controversies of 2024, in particular, underscored systemic failures and the need for reform. In the past, there have been multiple instances where NTA found itself in troubled waters. Allegations of impersonation, mishandling of biometric data, and untrained invigilators further underscore the systemic lapses. The government-appointed panel, led by Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, recommended restructuring the NTA to strengthen exam security, accountability, and operational efficiency. These reforms aim to restore credibility, ensure fairness, and introduce a tech-driven approach to entrance examinations in India. From the JEE Main paper leak and CUET-UG’s technical glitches to several NEET UG controversies, here are 5 major NTA controversies that have happened in the recent past.
NEET UG 2024: Question Paper Leak and Grace Marks Controversy
The NEET-UG 2024 exam, held on May 5 for over 24 lakh students, sparked controversy after allegations of a question paper leak and irregularities. Following the results on June 4, concerns arose over grace marks awarded to 1,563 students and an unusually high number of toppers. Protests erupted nationwide, and petitions reached the Supreme Court demanding a re-test and re-evaluation.
On June 13, the Supreme Court ordered a re-examination for students receiving grace marks while emphasizing fairness. Despite initial denials, the Education Minister later admitted to lapses in security protocols. Investigations into alleged paper leaks in Hazaribagh and Patna were directed to state police, with the court seeking detailed reports.
On July 24, the Supreme Court dismissed pleas for a nationwide re-test, citing a lack of systemic issues and potential disruption to academic schedules. While it acknowledged isolated incidents of malpractice, it stressed the need for thorough investigation without impacting millions of students.
UGC NET June 2024 Exam Cancellation
Amid the NEET controversy, the UGC NET June 2024 exam, held on June 18, was canceled due to widespread irregularities. Issues included hologram stickers for identity verification being attached post-exam in Prayagraj and candidates in Bihar’s Danapur detained after biometric data was lost. Additionally, candidates were allowed to take admit cards home against NTA guidelines, raising concerns over verification lapses. Poor infrastructure worsened matters, with heatwave conditions, insufficient water, and inadequate ventilation reported at multiple centers.
For the first time since 2018, the UGC NET was conducted offline in OMR mode instead of the Computer-Based Test (CBT), leading to errors and delays. These systemic failures have highlighted the urgent need for reform in India’s examination system to ensure fairness, reliability, and student well-being. Read our report here.
NEET UG: Dress Code and Security Violations
2023: In 2023, after appearing in the NEET exam, several candidates took to social media to share their experience. Complaints continued, with female candidates in Maharashtra made to turn their kurtas inside out, and others forced to change innerwear. Parents criticized the lack of standardized operating procedures for invigilators, citing emotional distress caused to students during such high-stakes exams. Read our report here.
2022: A 17-year-old in Kerala was forced to remove her bra after its metal hooks triggered a security alarm. Similar cases of invasive frisking were reported, including students being asked to remove hijabs and burqas. The incident sparked outrage over the insensitivity of security protocols. Read our report here.
CUET UG 2022: Glitches and Chaos
The debut edition of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET-UG) was marred by logistical failures, including last-minute changes to exam centers, widespread cancellations, and technical glitches. On July 15, students were unable to appear for the test due to sudden changes, with no retests offered. Natural disasters further disrupted exams in states like Kerala and Arunachal Pradesh, while errors in admit cards compounded the confusion. Technical issues persisted throughout, affecting thousands of students, and the exam’s extension delayed admissions, frustrating candidates nationwide. Read our report here.
JEE Main Paper Leak and Impersonation Scandal (2021)
In March 2021, screenshots of the JEE Main question paper surfaced on social media shortly after the exam began, raising concerns of a leak. Candidates and coaching centers confirmed the questions matched those in the exam. The National Testing Agency (NTA) faced criticism for security lapses, as mobile phones, banned during the exam, seemed to have been used for the leak. Read our report here.
Later that year, between August 26 and September 2, the NTA identified nine impersonation cases and blacklisted 23 test centers. The Ministry of Education placed 49 centers and 419 candidates under surveillance, citing violations like unauthorized materials and impersonation. Read our report here.
The seven member panel recommendation for NTA
During the NEET UG controversy, a government-appointed panel was formed, chaired by former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief Dr. K. Radhakrishnan. The panel proposed a series of reforms aimed at strengthening examination security. One of the key recommendations was the restructuring of the National Testing Agency (NTA). In its initial phase of implementation, the committee proposed a five-point restructuring plan for the National Testing Agency (NTA). This includes:
- Establishing an empowered and accountable governing body comprising domain experts.
- Bolstering the agency with additional personnel.
- Creating ten distinct verticals within the NTA to cover research and development, test security, infrastructure for test centers, and international collaborations, among other areas.
These proposed reforms hold the potential to reshape the landscape of medical entrance examinations in India, ensuring greater transparency, security, and accessibility for all candidates.
Click here to read our report.