47 NTA officials sacked amid nationwide student protests, more cleanup to follow
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has terminated the services of 47 officials in what is being described as a “major overhaul” of the agency following a series of examination controversies, including the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, people familiar with the matter said on Friday.
The action comes amid continuing student protests at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in NEET.
Apart from the dismissals, legal and criminal proceedings are likely to be initiated against some officials based on findings of internal inquiries and inputs from investigating agencies, the people said. The NTA is yet to disclose the names, ranks or specific reasons behind the terminations.
NTA begins restructuring after paper leak controversy
The overhauling of the agency is part of a wider restructuring of the examination body in line with the recommendations of the High-Level Committee of Experts (HLCE) headed by former ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan. The seven-member panel constituted in June 2024 had submitted its report on October 21, and recommended replacing NTA’s contractual workforce with permanent, accountable staff.
As part of the exercise, the agency has invited applications for four newly created general manager posts covering assessment research and psychometrics, test centre network and operations, information security, and vigilance, investigation and forensics. It has also advertised 16 young professional positions through the Union Public Service Commission’s Pratibha Setu portal.
“These measures represent the first concrete step in the institutional rebuild of NTA… Further recruitment and empowerment actions across the ten functional verticals recommended by the High-Level Committee of Experts will follow in the coming weeks,” the agency said in a statement.
The recruitment drive is aimed at reducing the agency’s dependence on contractual and outsourced staff. Of NTA’s 39 sanctioned permanent posts—all to be filled on deputation—only 24 are occupied. The agency currently functions with 73 contractual employees and 124 outsourced personnel.
Earlier this month, NTA invited applications from serving officers of the Centre, states, Union Territories, autonomous bodies and public sector undertakings for nine senior positions including three joint directors, two deputy directors, two assistant directors, one research scientist (C), and one senior superintendent (Accounts).
In May, it advertised three specialist leadership roles— chief technology officer, chief finance officer and general manager (human resources)—to strengthen governance and modernise its operations.
More reforms planned ahead of computer-based NEET
The overhaul will also extend to examination delivery in the coming years. From 2027, NEET-UG will be conducted in computer-based mode, replacing the current pen-and-paper format.
More than 2.2 million candidates appeared for the NEET-UG 2026 re-test on June 21 after the original May 3 examination was cancelled over a paper leak. CBI, which is investigating the case under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 and other laws, has arrested 13 people and is expected to file its charge sheet later this month.
