Blitz Bureau
THE National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct only entrance exams for higher education institutions from 2025, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has said. 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 on December 17.
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 organisation,” he added.
The restructuring follows recommendations from a high-level committee led by former ISRO Chairman 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.
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 centres to address their commercialisation. “We want to ensure coaching centres are not misused by market forces,” he added.
Starting in 2025, entrance exams will take place earlier in the academic year, moving from the usual July timeline to January or February.
