New Delhi: As the entrance exam season approaches, the National Testing Agency (NTA)—which conducts around 15 of the country’s most important entrance exams, including the NEET-UG and JEE (Main)—is expanding its pool of examiners and observers to prevent repeated assignments at the same centres and reduce the risk of misconduct. Additionally, the agency is identifying vacant premises in central and state government higher education institutions to set up new computer-based examination centres for the upcoming tests, ThePrint has learnt.
The steps are being taken following recommendations by a government-appointed panel, led by former chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), K. Radhakrishnan, which was formed to suggest reforms in entrance examinations conducted by NTA after allegations of irregularities in the NEET-UG exam earlier this year.
2024 saw a massive row related to awarding of grace marks and alleged paper leak of the NEET-UG exam. The UGC-NET exam was also cancelled in June and rescheduled after a possible leak was reported.
ThePrint had previously reported that the panel has recommended a hybrid model for entrance exams, prioritising online assessments and a multi-level NEET-UG, while also suggesting limits on outsourcing test centres, the hiring of permanent staff for the NTA, and the implementation of a strong candidate authentication system.
In a public notification issued Wednesday inviting registration for the post of observers, the agency said, “We are collecting a pool of serving and retired government officers as well as other categories of officers for conducting examinations for the NTA transparently and smoothly.”
A senior NTA official told ThePrint that the goal of expanding the pool of observers is to introduce new personnel and prevent the repetition of assignments at the same centres.
“The plan is to rotate observers across different cities and centres to prevent any potential nexus from forming within specific locations,” the official explained. “By having a larger pool of observers, we can ensure better coordination and avoid the concentration of responsibilities within a few individuals at particular centres.”
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) last month filed its third chargesheet in the alleged NEET-UG paper leak case against 21 individuals, taking the list of accused to 40.
Explaining the role of observers, the official said that they assist the supervisors, invigilators and other officials in conducting a fair examination, while also verifying that all practices align with NTA guidelines.
“Observers are tasked with monitoring the examination centre to ensure safety measures, seating arrangements and social distancing norms are adhered to. They also verify that frisking and identity checks are conducted according to NTA standards. In addition to overseeing the exam hall, they monitor server connectivity and ensure the secure downloading of question papers. After each shift, they verify and validate various documents compiled by the Centre Head to ensure the integrity and proper conduct of the examination.”
In a response submitted in the Parliament in July, the Union Ministry of Education had informed that the NTA has over 130 outsourced staff and 39 contractual employees.
The NTA is also actively working to expand and strengthen its network of exam centres. “The Ministry and NTA are in regular discussions with both state and central government universities and institutions to identify available spaces,” another official explained. “Our goal is to establish new centers and reduce our reliance on private computer centres for conducting exams.”
The NTA had conducted the NEET-UG exam at 4,750 exam centres this year. The CBI had arrested officials from private schools, which were also examination centres, in Gujarat’s Godhra and Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh for their alleged involvement in the malpractices.
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Radhakrishnan panel’s recommendations: Implementation underway
Meanwhile, in a written response submitted in the Parliament, the education ministry said last week that a high-powered steering committee has been constituted to monitor the implementation of the recommendations made by the Radhakrishnan committee.
“The committee recommendations include strengthening of NTA, hiring of domain specific manpower, involvement of Test Indenting Agencies as Knowledge and Examinations partner etc. The Committee has recommended that NTA should develop institutional linkage with State/District Authorities for providing a Secure Test Administration Apparatus,” the ministry informed the Parliament.
Additionally, the government-appointed panel has also laid out measures and recommended Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to prevent breaches in both Pen and Paper, and Computer-Based Test (CBT) examinations. “Guidelines for Question Paper Setting and Vetting as per defined protocols have also been recommended. It has called for a detailed framework to be developed on Testing Centre Allocation Policy to prevent any unusual pattern of test centre allocation to students,” the ministry said.
ThePrint had earlier reported that the committee recommended online examination in all entrance exams and suggested a “hybrid mode” in areas, where conduct of CBTs is not possible. Besides, the panel has also recommended that wherever the exam is conducted offline, the question papers should be sent in an online mode, according to officials familiar with the development.
Currently, question papers for exams including NEET-UG, which are conducted in offline mode, are sent to the banks, from where they are transported to the examination centres.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)
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