Major overhaul at NTA: Question papers to be finalised minutes before exams; panel of 5,000 experts formed

NEW DELHI: The National Testing Agency (NTA) is preparing for a comprehensive overhaul to prevent question paper leaks and restore confidence in national-level examinations. A key feature of the proposed reforms is a system in which question papers will be finalised by selecting questions from an extensive question bank just minutes before an examination. More than 5,000 academic experts, scientists, researchers, teachers and translators have been empanelled for examinations, including NEET. The agency has also shifted its headquarters from Okhla in southeast Delhi to the Government of India Press building on Minto Road. The reforms are based on recommendations made by a Parliamentary Standing Committee.

The restructuring follows the controversy over the NEET-UG question paper leak and the subsequent student protests. Around 600 subject experts had earlier been removed from the agency's panel. Experts selected for the new panel will undergo a four-stage screening process, during which their educational qualifications, professional experience, research achievements and experience in preparing question papers will be assessed. Individuals associated with coaching institutes will be excluded, while those assigned confidential tasks will be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement before undertaking each assignment.

New system to prevent question paper leaks

The NTA plans to create an extensive question bank by collecting questions from various subjects. Experts preparing the questions will not know in advance which examination they will be used for or which questions will eventually be selected. The final question paper will be assembled by selecting questions from the bank just minutes before the examination. This system has already begun to be implemented in some entrance examinations, with the broader objective of strengthening security at every stage, from question preparation to the delivery of papers to examination centres.