Ministry of Education Overhauls NTA: 600 Experts Removed, 4-Tier Paper Checks Introduced

Union Education Minister Shri Joshi Pralhad has directed that all necessary security and related infrastructural facilities should be put in place for the smooth conduct of NTA examinations. Also, revamp of the examination team was undertaken with 600 experts being removed and new experts being onboarded.

Ministry of Education Overhauls NTA: 600 Experts Removed, 4-Tier Paper Checks Introduced

The Union Education Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi recently chaired a high level review meeting with NTA Director General, Secretery of Department of Higher Education and other senior officials. As a result of review meeting, the minister has announced a comprehensive structural and security overhaul of the National Testing Agency (NTA) to strengthen examination integrity.

The Minister also ordered strict compliance with examination protocols, calling for enhanced security and infrastructural facilities. The Director General of the NTA briefed the Ministry on immediate structural updates and security reinforcements following recent examination reviews.

The overhaul follows mounting public pressure over paper leaks in NEET-UG and recent flaws in UGC-NET question papers that necessitated re-examinations across English, Commerce, and Sociology. In addition to the immediate administrative reshuffle, Minister Pralhad Joshi mandated a thorough 30-day process audit of all NTA operations.

The agency is also restructuring its Confidential Operations (CONOPS) architecture by implementing air-gapped computer systems, dedicated secure workrooms, and strict device-deposit protocols to ensure future exam security.

Key Reform Measures

The following reforms have been announced by the education minister

Expert Panel Revamp: Removal of 600 subject experts from examination panels, with a new cohort of specialists currently being onboarded.

Four-Tier Paper Verification: Implementation of a four-level question paper checking system to prevent factual, typographical, translation, and formatting errors before final printing.

Staffing Expansion: Induction of 20 to 25 officials over the next two to three weeks, along with a reviewed long-term personnel strategy.

Heightened Security Operations: Relocation of NTA headquarters on a war footing to upgraded facilities secured by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel.

As a follow up meeting on NTA, Union Education Minister Shri @JoshiPralhad directed that all necessary security and related infrastructural facilities should be put in place for the smooth conduct of examinations.

Following directions from the Minister, DG, NTA apprised on the… pic.twitter.com/SCSnko504d

— Ministry of Education (@EduMinOfIndia) August 18, 2026

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