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New Delhi, June 22, 2024: After large scale protest and political upheaval over the NEET under graduate exams, Government of India today formed a high level committee to bring in reforms in the National Testing Agency (NTA), who conduct such examinations.
“In order to ensure transparent, smooth and fair conduct of examinations through National Testing Agency (NTA), Department of Higher Education, Union Ministry of Education constituted a High-Level Committee of Experts to make recommendations,” Education Ministry sources said.
The Committee will recommend on Reform in mechanism of examination process, Improvement in Data Security protocols and Structure and functioning of National Testing Agency.
The Committee would submit its report to the Union Education Ministry within two months from today, the order said.
Former ISRO Chairman and Chairman BoG, IIT Kanpur Dr K. Radhakrishnanis made the Chairman of the Committee, a government order said.
Members of the high level committee are former Director, AIIMS Delhi Dr Randeep Guleria, Vice Chancellor, Professor Emeritus, Department of Civil Engineering IIT Madras Prof. Ramamurthy K, Co-Founder, People Strong and Board Member- Karmayogi Bharat, Pankaj Bansal, Dean Student Affairs, IIT Delhi Prof. Aditya Mittal and Joint Secretary, Ministry of Education, Govt. of India Govind Jaiswal is made the member secretary of the committee
The Terms of Reference of the committee are Reform in mechanism of examination process: to analyse the end-to-end examination process and suggest measures to improve efficiency of the system and to forestall any possible breach. And to conduct a thorough review of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)/Protocols of the NTA, and suggest measures to strengthen these procedures/protocols along with monitoring mechanism to ensure compliance at every level.
Improvement in Data Security protocols: To evaluate the existing data security processes and protocols of NTA and recommend measures for its improvement. To examine existing security protocols related to the paper-setting and other processes for different examinations and make recommendations to enhance robustness of system.
Structure & Functioning of National Testing Agency: To make recommendations on the organizational structure and functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA) for implementation of recommendations given by the committee and clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of functionaries at every level. Also to assess the current Grievance Redressal Mechanism of the NTA, identify areas of improvement and make recommendations for enhancing its efficiency.
The Committee has also been entrusted power so that it can co-opt any subject matter expert to assist them.
