The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct only entrance exams for higher education institutions from 2025, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Tuesday. He clarified that NTA will no longer conduct recruitment examinations.
“We are working towards technology-driven entrance exams that ensure zero error and minimize irregularities,” Pradhan said while addressing reporters at his residence.
He also announced the restructuring of NTA to improve its efficiency and credibility. “We have started the process of restructuring the NTA by creating new posts and appointing new officers. This will bring fresh energy into the organization,” he added.
The restructuring follows recommendations from a high-level committee led by former ISRO Chairman Dr. K. Radhakrishnan. The committee, formed in June after the NEET-undergraduate paper leak, submitted its report to the Ministry of Education on October 21.
The committee, constituted on June 22, held around 30 meetings and proposed 101 recommendations to ensure the fair and smooth conduct of examinations.
The committee also proposed the creation of a Grievance Reporting and Redressal Cell (GRRC) to address issues faced by students during exams. “Given the scale of exams like JEE and NEET, which see participation from millions of students, this is a critical step,” Pradhan said.
Addressing student concerns, Pradhan stressed the need for measures to tackle mental health challenges and ensure timely declaration of results. He said, “Mental health will be a focus.”
On the issue of exam security, Pradhan pointed out that robust cybersecurity measures were necessary. The committee proposed dynamic solutions to secure question papers and prevent irregularities.
The reforms also include simplifying the admission process under the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) and regulating coaching centers to address their commercialization. “We want to ensure coaching centers are not misused by market forces,” he added.
To facilitate the reforms, the committee suggested leveraging public testing infrastructure, such as schools and local colleges, and engaging in continuous research on psychometrics.
Dr. Radhakrishnan has been requested to lead a three-member high-power steering committee to oversee these changes.
Starting in 2025, entrance exams will take place earlier in the academic year, moving from the usual July timeline to January or February. Pradhan clarified that while the Health Ministry will determine how exams like NEET are conducted, the NTA, as a service provider, will focus on zero-error execution.
The committee’s establishment followed the NEET-UG paper leak, which led to a CBI investigation that identified 144 candidates who allegedly paid to access leaked and solved exam papers. This scandal, coupled with the cancellation or postponement of exams like UGC-NET, prompted widespread criticism and demands for reforms.
“We have taken extensive feedback from parents, technologists, state administrators, and cybersecurity experts. This is a collective effort to make the examination system more robust and student-friendly,” Pradhan concluded.
