New Delhi, July 24 : The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Friday terminated the services of 47 officials as part of a major overhaul of its examination system following the NEET-UG paper leak controversy. The agency also announced that legal and criminal proceedings would be initiated against some of those dismissed, while indicating that additional disciplinary and structural reforms are in the pipeline .
The action comes amid mounting criticism over the conduct of national-level entrance examinations and follows weeks of protests across the country demanding accountability for the alleged leak of the NEET-UG question paper. The controversy led to the cancellation of the examination and its subsequent re-conduct, triggering widespread concern among students and parents.
The NTA said the dismissals are part of a broader effort to strengthen transparency, accountability and operational integrity in the conduct of competitive examinations. It added that more reform measures would be announced in the coming days as the agency undertakes a comprehensive review of its internal systems.
The NEET-UG paper leak has sparked nationwide protests, with student organisations demanding an independent investigation into the alleged irregularities, strict action against those responsible and comprehensive reforms to restore confidence in the examination process. Protesters have also sought stronger safeguards to prevent future paper leaks and improve grievance redressal mechanisms.
The controversy has placed the NTA under intense scrutiny over its examination management practices, including question paper security, monitoring systems and administrative oversight. Several education experts have also called for structural reforms to ensure the credibility of high-stakes entrance examinations.
Established in 2017, the NTA is responsible for conducting several major national entrance examinations, including the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG), the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main and the Common University Entrance Test (CUET). In recent years, the agency has faced criticism over examination management and operational lapses, prompting the latest reform initiative.
Officials said the ongoing review aims to strengthen institutional accountability, enhance security protocols and improve transparency in the conduct of national examinations. Further administrative action and policy changes are expected as the reform process progresses.
