NTA to be restructured in 2025, to focus only on entrance exams: Dharmendra Pradhan

The National Testing Agency (NTA), which has been under fire after the alleged leak of medical entrance NEET exam papers, will undergo some major restructuring in 2025 and will no longer conduct any recruitment exams starting 2025.

The NTA will focus on only higher education entrance exams, said Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday (December 17).

At least ten new posts are being created and there will be many changes in the functioning of NTA to ensure there is zero-error testing, added the minister.

Also read: NEET-UG 2024 | NTA denies leak; ‘no paper missing, no locks broken’, it tells SC

This move is part of examination reforms based on recommendation of a high-level panel set up earlier this year following alleged leak of medical entrance NEET exam and series of cancellations of other exams due to suspected leaks and other glitches.

The ministry is also in conversation with the Health Ministry about whether the exam should be conducted in traditional pen and paper-based mode or switch to a Computer Based Test (CBT).

Also read: Explained: How the National Testing Agency (NTA) functions

"NTA will be limited to conducting only entrance exams for higher education and will not conduct any recruitment exams from next year," Pradhan told reporters.

The minister also clarified that the Common University Entrance Test (CUET)-UG will continue to be conducted once a year.

"The government is looking at moving to computer adaptive test and technology-driven entrance exams in the near future," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)