NTA announces reforms

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has rolled out a wide-ranging set of reforms to its examination system in the wake of the NEET-UG paper leak scandal and subsequent errors discovered in UGC-NET question papers. Education Ministry confirmed the changes, stating the Agency would introduce tighter scrutiny procedures. Additionally, they will replace a large portion of its subject-matter experts and upgrade physical security at its offices.

Speaking after a review meeting led by Education Minister Pralhad Joshi, officials outlined several corrective steps the NTA has already begun implementing:

–Expert panel overhaul: Around 600 subject experts involved in setting and reviewing exam content have been removed from their roles, with new experts being brought in to replace them.

–New paper-checking protocol: A four-stage review process will now be applied to every question paper before it reaches candidates, intended to catch factual, typographical, or structural errors well before an exam is conducted.

–Staffing boost: Between 20 and 25 new officials are expected to join the NTA within the next two to three weeks. 

–Relocation and security upgrade: NTA offices will be moved to new premises on an urgent basis. The new locations will come under the protection of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

The Education Ministry has additionally instructed the Agency to carry out a full audit of its testing procedures and submit a report on the remedial steps taken.

Why are these changes happening?

The reforms follow a rocky stretch for the NTA, which administered the UGC-NET June 2026 exam across 87 subjects between June 22 and 30. The test determines eligibility for Junior Research Fellowships, assistant professor positions, and PhD admissions nationwide.

After the exam, the NTA received numerous complaints alleging errors in the question papers for three specific subjects. A review committee set up to investigate the complaints found anomalies in all three papers and recommended that those exams be re-conducted entirely to preserve fairness.

The Agency accepted the committee’s findings, stating that papers with such flaws fell short of the standard expected for a fair, error-free test.

This is not the NTA’s first brush with controversy this year—the agency has been under intense public and political pressure since the NEET-UG medical entrance exam paper leak sparked nationwide protests earlier in 2026.