New Delhi: Education Minister Pralhad Joshi reviewed reforms at the National Testing Agency (NTA) following recent issues and directed officials to strictly enforce examination protocols and overhaul confidential operations and security systems on a war footing.
Joshi held a meeting with the Secretary of the Department of Higher Education, the NTA Director General and other senior officials to review steps taken to reform the agency’s overall examination system.
During the meeting, the minister was informed that more than 50 NTA staff members have been removed. Officials also said 10 new professional leadership positions, including Chief Technology Officer, Chief Finance Officer, Chief Information Security Officer, General Manager for Test Security and General Manager for Research and Development and Psychometrics, have been advertised and are being filled.
Domain specialists from the private sector are also being brought in for cyber-security, psychometrics, question-paper design and other specialised areas, according to the information presented at the meeting.
Joshi directed officials to ensure strict compliance with established examination protocols. He also ordered a complete overhaul of the Confidential Operations architecture, including secluded rooms, air-gapped systems and device-deposit protocols, with the measures to be implemented on a war footing.
The NTA has also been directed to conduct a comprehensive audit of all examination processes and submit a report detailing the corrective action taken.
