Restructuring of NTA | 18 Dec 2024

Source: TH 

Why in News? 

A government-appointed panel, led by former ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan, has recommended extensive reforms in the National Testing Agency (NTA). 

What are the Key Recommendations for Restructuring the NTA? 

  • Empowered Governance: Create an empowered governing body with three sub-committees on audit, ethics, and stakeholder relations. 
    • The Director-General (DG) should be at least of additional secretary rank and hold a dedicated leadership position. 
  • ‘Digi Exam’ System: It suggests launching a ‘Digi Exam’ system to prevent impersonation.  
    • The process uses Aadhaar, biometrics, and AI analytics to authenticate candidates' identities at various stages of the exam process. 
  • Mobile Test Centers (MTCs): Equip buses with workstations, internet connectivity, and power supply to reach remote locations like the Northeast, Himalayan states, and islands. 
  • Hybrid Testing Methods: Encrypted question papers are transmitted to the centralised servers of testing centers, printed securely, using high-speed printers for ensuring confidentiality. 
  • Printing of Question Papers: The printing press should undergo pre-approval verification and continuous monitoring throughout printing, packaging, and transportation. 
    • Question papers and OMR sheets should be uniquely coded and audited.  
  • Testing Innovations: The panel recommended three policy innovations. 
    • Multi-Session Testing: For large-scale exams, particularly when participant numbers exceed two lakh. 
    • Multi-Stage Testing: Test to be conducted in phases, with each stage focusing on a specific aspect of the candidate's knowledge or skills. 
    • Cluster Approach: Streamlining the wide range of subject streams for CUET admission into more focused clusters of related subjects. 
  • Test Centre Allocation: The panel proposed allocating testing centers near candidates' residences and establishing secure centers in each district.  
    • The National Testing Agency should aim to set up 1,000 secure centers, prioritizing government institutions. 
  • Permanent Staffing: It recommended NTA to hire permanent staff. 
  • Collaboration: The NTA should collaborate with Test Indenting Agencies, including the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), throughout the testing process. 

What is the National Testing Agency? 

  • About: NTA was established in 2017 as a Society registered under the Indian Societies Registration Act, of 1860. 
  • Objective: It is a premier, specialist, autonomous and self-sustained testing organization to conduct entrance examinations for admission/fellowship in higher educational institutions. E.g., JEE (Main), CMAT, UGC - NET etc. 
  • Governance: NTA is chaired by an eminent educationist appointed by the Ministry of Education. 
    • The Director General is assisted by 9 verticals headed by academicians/ experts. 
    • The CEO is the Director General appointed by the Government.