The Ministry of Education formed a panel headed by the Ex-ISRO Chief after the allegations of irregularities in the NEET-UG exam earlier this year. The panel has suggested a comprehensive restructuring of the National Testing Agency (NTA) to keep focus on conducting entrance examinations. The panel advocates transitioning to online exams, introducing multi-level testing for large candidate pools exceeding two lakh, and developing a testing center allocation policy. Additionally, it suggests launching a ‘Digi Exam’ system to prevent impersonation. Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Education Minister of India directed NTA to only conduct entrance exams from 2025, not recruitment exams anymore. The panel led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) former chairman K. Radhakrishnan, with seven other members, was formed in June this year following the allegations of irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET-UG exam. The panel received over 35,000 responses from stakeholders including parents, students, and teachers, and formed a well-informed report which was submitted to the Union Education Ministry in October 2024. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan confirmed that, following recommendations from a high-level expert committee, NTA will no longer conduct recruitment exams. This major shift aims to strengthen the integrity of entrance exams and address the ongoing concerns about exam leaks and technical glitches that have plagued national exams in recent years. Under the new restructuring, the NTA will dedicate itself exclusively to conducting entrance exams for higher education, such as NEET-UG, CUET-UG, UGC NET, and other assessments at the UGC and university levels. This decision was prompted by concerns over exam integrity, including instances of paper leaks in NEET-UG and irregularities in UGC NET and CUET-UG. Previously responsible for both recruitment and educational entrance exams, the agency will now focus on enhancing its procedures to ensure these critical exams are conducted with greater security and fairness. Pradhan emphasized that this shift aligns with a larger government effort to streamline the NTA’s responsibilities and address issues raised by students, educational institutions, and other stakeholders. By incorporating digital solutions, expanding testing infrastructure, and prioritizing the integrity of exams like NEET-UG 2025, CUET-UG 2025, and UGC NET 2025, these reforms aim to establish a new benchmark for entrance examinations in India. As the nation transitions to technology-driven testing with enhanced accountability, the government aspires to rebuild trust in the examination process while fostering a fairer system for all candidates.
