Pralhad Joshi Orders NTA to Fix Exam System on War Footing

Education Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday directed the National Testing Agency (NTA) to conduct a comprehensive audit of its examination processes following a series of lapses in major entrance and eligibility tests this year. Joshi held a meeting with the Higher Education Secretary, NTA Director General and other senior officials to review concerns surrounding the agency's examinations. He instructed officials to identify weaknesses in the existing system and take corrective measures to prevent similar problems in future examinations.

The minister also asked the NTA to submit a detailed report outlining the corrective action taken in response to the reported lapses. The directive comes amid growing scrutiny of the agency's examination procedures, particularly over errors in question papers, technical disruptions and other operational challenges. The review is expected to examine different stages of the examination process and identify areas where stronger safeguards and quality-control mechanisms are required.

The latest concern emerged after the NTA announced on Sunday that it would conduct a re-examination for three subjects of UGC-NET June 2026 — English, Sociology and Commerce. The agency cited multiple errors in the question papers as the reason for holding the fresh examinations. The decision has added to concerns among candidates and intensified questions about the accuracy and quality-control systems used while preparing and delivering national-level examinations.

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The NTA has faced other significant challenges this year. The NEET-UG examination scheduled for May 3 was cancelled following a question paper leak, after which a re-examination was conducted on June 21. The CUET-UG examination held on May 30 also faced disruption when a technical glitch in the examination software prevented 3,765 students from taking the test. The incidents have placed additional pressure on the agency to strengthen its examination infrastructure and improve its ability to respond to disruptions.

Joshi's latest intervention indicates that the government wants the problems to be addressed through broader institutional reforms rather than individual fixes. The NTA's review is expected to cover question-paper preparation, verification and quality checks, examination technology and operational procedures. Strengthening these areas will be important for ensuring that candidates appearing for competitive and eligibility examinations receive a reliable and consistent testing experience.

The government has also removed 50 NTA staff members as scrutiny of the agency's functioning continues, according to the report. The audit and subsequent corrective-action report will provide a framework for assessing how the agency plans to prevent further lapses. With examinations such as NEET, UGC-NET and CUET affecting large numbers of students across the country, improving reliability, transparency and operational preparedness remains a key priority for the examination system.

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