Explained: Major overhaul at NTA following the NEET controversy! Now, separate officials for everything from cybersecurity to investigations..

Explained: Following controversies surrounding the NEET-UG exam over the past two years, major changes are finally underway at the National Testing Agency (NTA). The Ministry of Education has taken the first significant step toward making the NTA robust and reliable. Senior officials will now be appointed to key areas within the agency, such as cybersecurity, investigations, and psychometrics. Additionally, for the first time, young professionals will join the NTA through the UPSC’s 'Pratibha Setu' portal. The Ministry of Education states that these measures are being implemented based on the recommendations of a high-level expert committee chaired by Prof. K. Radhakrishnan. The objective is to make the NTA's entire system more secure, transparent, and technologically robust than before.

Why was there a need for changes at the NTA?
Serious questions were raised regarding the NTA's functioning following the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak controversy and the cancellation of the UGC-NET exam. The agency faced persistent criticism concerning exam security, data protection, the confidentiality of question papers, the monitoring of exam centers, and technical infrastructure. Subsequently, the Central Government constituted a high-level committee led by Prof. K. Radhakrishnan, which recommended major institutional reforms for the NTA. The process of implementing these recommendations has now begun.

NEET Exam News, NTA Vacancy 2026: New recruitments to take place at the NTA.
Four new General Managers to be appointed.
The NTA has issued an advertisement this week for recruitment to four senior-level positions. These will all be General Manager-level positions, with initial appointments made on a three-year contract. The responsibilities of these officers will extend beyond merely conducting examinations; they will also be tasked with making the examination system more secure and scientifically robust for the future. The first position will be that of General Manager (Assessment Research and Development & Psychometrics). This officer will oversee the entire scientific process of question paper preparation. The department will be responsible for creating question banks (Item Banks), managing normalization processes, handling difficulty-level balancing (equating and calibration), and implementing future innovations such as Computer Adaptive Tests and AI-based assessments. Requirements for this role include a PhD in Psychometrics, Educational Measurement, Statistics, or a related field, along with at least 12 years of experience. Additionally, five years of leadership-level experience at a national or international examination body is mandatory.

**Overseeing Exam Centres in Over 500 Cities**
The second position will be that of General Manager (Test Centre Network and Operations). This officer will manage the entire operations of examination centres located in over 500 cities across the country as well as abroad. Responsibilities will include the selection of centres, ensuring quality and capacity, providing facilities for differently-abled candidates, maintaining hygiene and basic amenities, and managing all arrangements on the day of the examination. Coordination with state and district administrations will also be handled through this department. Candidates for this role are required to have experience managing a large network comprising at least 200 centres.

**NTA to Have Its Own CISO for the First Time**
Following the controversies surrounding NEET and UGC-NET, the most significant concerns raised pertained to the digital security of the examinations. For this reason, a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) will be appointed at the NTA for the first time. This officer will ensure the security of all the agency's servers, networks, applications, and data. Additionally, this officer will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, the Information Technology Act, and all guidelines issued by CERT-In. A round-the-clock Security Operations Center (SOC) will also operate under this department. Mandatory requirements for this position include at least 12 years of experience in the field of information security and international professional certifications such as CISSP, CISM, or CISA.

**Separate Department to Investigate Paper Leaks and Exam Fraud**
The fourth position is considered the most critical: General Manager (Vigilance, Investigation, and Forensics). This officer will oversee the entire system of vigilance, investigation, and digital forensics within the NTA. Any exam-related irregularities, paper leaks, digital tampering, or other malpractices will be investigated through this department. When necessary, the officer will collaborate with agencies such as the CBI, IB, ED, state police, and cybercrime units to conduct investigations. These actions will be carried out under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. A minimum of 15 years of experience in investigation, vigilance, or law enforcement is required for this role.

**Opportunity for Talented UPSC Candidates**
For the first time, the NTA has also decided to recruit 16 young professionals through the UPSC's 'Pratibha Setu' portal. These recruits will be candidates who have appeared for the Civil Services Examination and whose details are listed on the Pratibha Setu portal. Of these, 12 will work in academic research, two in legal research, and two in finance and accounts. Their initial appointment will be for a period of 24 months.

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