Pralhad Joshi Orders NTA Overhaul, 50 Staffers Removed Amid Security Concerns

The Ministry of Education has announced a series of measures to overhaul the National Testing Agency (NTA), including changes in its leadership structure, recruitment of specialised professionals and a comprehensive review of examination security protocols.Education Minister Pralhad Joshi held a meeting with the Secretary, Department of Higher Education, NTA Director General and other senior officials to review the steps taken by the testing agency following recent UGC NET examination-related issues.According to an official post shared by the Ministry of Education on X, the minister was apprised of measures being undertaken by the NTA to reform its overall system. The ministry said that more than 50 staff members have been removed from the agency as part of the reforms.New Leadership and Domain SpecialistsThe NTA has also advertised 10 new professional leadership positions, including roles such as Chief Technology Officer, Chief Finance Officer, Chief Information Security Officer, General Manager for Test Security and General Manager for Research and Development and Psychometrics.The ministry said these professionals are being onboarded as part of efforts to strengthen the agency's technical and examination management capabilities.In addition, domain specialists from the private sector are being brought in for specialised areas including cybersecurity, psychometrics and question-paper design.The move comes amid continued scrutiny of the NTA over examination-related issues and concerns surrounding the security and integrity of national-level entrance and eligibility tests conducted by the agency.Focus on Confidential OperationsJoshi directed officials to ensure strict compliance with established examination protocols. He also ordered a "complete overhaul" of the Confidential Operations (CONOPS) architecture.The reforms will include measures such as the use of secluded rooms, air-gapped systems and stricter device-deposit protocols. These measures are aimed at strengthening the security of sensitive examination processes and reducing the possibility of unauthorised access or information leaks.The ministry has also directed the NTA to conduct a thorough audit of all examination processes. The agency has been asked to submit a report detailing the corrective action taken following the audit.The latest measures come at a time when the NTA is facing renewed questions over examination security, including recent allegations concerning the UGC-NET June 2026 examination. The agency had also faced major scrutiny in 2024 following controversies surrounding NEET-UG and UGC-NET, leading to significant changes in its examination processes.

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