A parliamentary panel has flagged 16 empty NTA posts and called for reforms to strengthen examination security in India.
What Did the Parliamentary Panel Find?
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has 16 vacancies among its 39 sanctioned permanent positions, leaving approximately 41% of its core posts unfilled, according to a parliamentary committee report tabled in the Rajya Sabha. The committee also found that the director general’s position remained under additional charge for nearly two years, between June 2024 and April 2026.
The 31-member parliamentary committee on education, women, children, youth and sports, headed by Congress MP Mukul Wasnik, recommended permanent recruitment of specialists in examination security, technology, data analytics and logistics. It observed that reliance on deputation and private contractors was insufficient for developing the agency’s institutional capacity.
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What Changes Were Proposed for Examination Security?
The committee recommended establishing a continuously updated question bank, with examination papers selected digitally shortly before tests. It proposed that experts responsible for vetting questions remain under strict quarantine until examinations conclude.
The recommendations follow the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 on May 12 after at least 120 questions in a compilation of suggested questions matched those in the May 3 examination paper.
The panel also sought greater transparency in examination results and public disclosure of irregularities and investigations. It recommended establishing a dedicated research wing and strengthening cybersecurity safeguards against hacking and manipulation.
How Serious Are NTA’s Staffing and Legal Challenges?
NTA’s annual report for 2024-25 recorded 474 court cases, including 69 before the Supreme Court. Of the total, 356 concerned NEET-UG 2024. Meanwhile, contractual staff increased from 39 in 2023-24 to 76 in 2025-26. Another 136 personnel were outsourced during 2025-26.
The committee emphasised that deputation-based staffing could not adequately strengthen the agency’s long-term institutional capabilities. It also noted differing views among members concerning the education ministry’s assertion that no NTA-conducted examination experienced a paper leak between 2017 and 2025.
What Reforms Were Suggested for Testing Centres?
The committee proposed using NTA’s ₹590-crore revenue surplus to upgrade government-owned computer-based examination centres. It recommended establishing a network of 1,000 secure testing centres, with at least one facility in every district.
Other proposals included mock examinations, financial assistance for school and college IT laboratories, and a phased transition towards computer-adaptive testing.
The panel also urged NTA to concentrate on higher-education entrance examinations and consider reasonable age and attempt limits for major tests, including NEET-UG. Together, the recommendations focus on permanent staffing, secure examination infrastructure, transparent procedures and stronger technological safeguards to improve the administration of national entrance examinations.
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