Why in news?

A Parliamentary Standing Committee has sharply criticised the National Testing Agency (NTA), stating that it “has not inspired much confidence” and must urgently improve its functioning.

The panel highlighted repeated delays in exam results, especially CUET, and noted that despite collecting a surplus of ₹448 crore over six years, the NTA has not built adequate in-house capacity to conduct tests independently.

The committee urged the agency to strengthen its systems, infrastructure, and accountability mechanisms to ensure reliable and timely examinations.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• About National Testing Agency
• House Panel Flags Serious Concerns Over NTA’s Functioning

About National Testing Agency(NTA)

• It was established in 2017 as an autonomous, self-sustaining organisation under the Education Ministry (formerly HRD Ministry).
• It is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and comes under the RTI Act.
• Before its creation, UGC, CBSE, and central universities like DU and JNU conducted their own entrance exams.
• Origins: When Was NTA First Envisioned?
  • The idea for a national exam-conducting body dates back to the 1992 Programme of Action under NEP 1986.
  • In 2010, a committee of IIT directors recommended establishing such an agency through legislation, inspired by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), USA.
  • The government formally announced NTA in 2017, and the Cabinet approved its creation soon after.
• Exams Conducted by NTA
  • NTA conducts India’s major entrance examinations, including:
  • Top Undergraduate Entrance Exams
    • JEE Main – Engineering admissions
    • NEET-UG – Medical admissions
    • CUET-UG – Admissions to undergraduate programmes in central universities
    • Over 50 lakh candidates appear for these three exams annually.
  • Other Major Exams
    • CUET-PG – Postgraduate admissions
    • UGC-NET – Eligibility for assistant professor, JRF, and PhD
    • CSIR UGC-NET – PhD admission in science disciplines
    • CMAT, Hotel Management JEE, GPAT
    • Entrance exams for DU, JNU, IIFT, ICAR, and others

House Panel Flags Serious Concerns Over NTA’s Functioning

• The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education has sharply criticised the National Testing Agency (NTA), stating that it has “not inspired much confidence” and must urgently improve its performance.
• The panel noted chronic delays, errors, and administrative lapses in major national examinations.
• Repeated Delays and Exam Irregularities
  • The committee observed that NTA delayed CUET results for multiple years, disrupting university admissions and academic calendars.
  • Out of 14 exams conducted in 2024, at least five faced major issues:
    • UGC-NET, CSIR-NET, NEET-PG were postponed
    • NEET-UG faced paper leaks
    • CUET results were delayed
    • JEE Main 2025 had 12 incorrect questions withdrawn after answer key errors
  • The panel warned that such incidents erode students’ trust in the testing system.
• NTA’s Financial Surplus Should Be Used for Capacity Building
  • NTA collected ₹3,512.98 crore in six years and spent ₹3,064.77 crore, leaving a surplus of ₹448 crore.
  • The committee recommended that this money be used to:
    • Build in-house capability to conduct exams independently
    • Strengthen regulatory oversight of outsourced vendors
• Preference for Pen-and-Paper Exams
• Citing CBSE and UPSC’s decades-long track record, the panel expressed support for pen-and-paper exams, noting they have been “leak-proof for several years” — implying computer-based testing may be more vulnerable.
• Recommendation to Recognise Sonam Wangchuk’s Institute
  • The committee encouraged the UGC to evaluate Sonam Wangchuk’s Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh, noting its innovative model and potential for replication across India.
• Observation Regarding UGC
  • Draft UGC Regulations 2025
    • Opposition fears they increase the Chancellor/Visitor’s control over Vice-Chancellor appointments.
    • Committee recommended detailed discussions with CABE (Central Advisory Board of Education) before finalising rules.
  • UGC Leadership Vacuum
    • The UGC Chairperson post has remained vacant since April 2025
    • Committee urges urgent appointment
  • UGC Equity Regulations 2025
    • Panel noted delays and recommended:
    • Inclusion of OBC harassment under caste-based discrimination
    • Addition of disability as a discrimination axis
    • Clear categorisation of discriminatory acts to avoid subjective interpretation