The National Testing Agency (NTA) is going through a major transformation from 2025. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced that NTA will focus exclusively on conducting entrance exams for higher education institutions and will no longer conduct recruitment exams. This important decision is aimed at streamlining the focus of the agency and enhancing the quality of the examination process for students.
NTA’s focus is entirely on higher education
Pradhan shared the news during a press briefing, saying that “NTA will be limited to conducting entrance examinations for higher education only and will not conduct any recruitment examinations from next year.” The change comes amid ongoing concerns over the integrity of the exam and efforts to make the testing process more efficient and secure.
The minister emphasized that the reorganized focus of NTA will include entrance exams like NEET, JEE and CUET. By devoting its resources entirely to these high-stakes assessments, NTA aims to enhance the student experience and improve examination results.
Changes in technology-driven examinations
Pradhan also highlighted the government’s plans to introduce a more technology-driven examination system. There are ongoing discussions about adopting computer-adaptive tests, a progressive step towards technology-enabled education.
The ministry is also collaborating with the Health Ministry to decide whether the NEET-UG exam should be converted to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format or continue in the traditional pen-and-paper mode. The detailed modalities for the NEET-UG format are expected to be announced within the next two to three weeks.
Strengthening the structure of NTA
As part of the restructuring, ten new posts will be created to enhance the capabilities of NTA. The government is set to implement the recommendations of the committee led by former ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan. These include ensuring safe storage of question papers and using government educational institutions and infrastructure to maintain the integrity of the examination. Pradhan assured that the recommendations will be implemented “in letter and spirit” to maintain the credibility and fairness of the examination system.
NTA Grievance Redressal Mechanism
Acknowledging the concerns of students, NTA will set up a strong grievance reporting and redressal cell. This mechanism aims to address the issues more effectively while ensuring a student-centric approach in the revised framework.
Major changes in NTA
The announcement comes after recent controversies over the sanctity of the exam, including allegations of NEET-UG paper leaks and cancellation of several exams due to malpractices. These reforms are seen as a direct response to these challenges, reflecting a new commitment to safeguarding the credibility of India’s national examinations.
With its new focus, NTA aims to become a globally recognized agency that will foster trust between students and educational institutions while ensuring a seamless and transparent examination process.
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