NTA Under Scrutiny: Parliamentary Committee's Critique

Parliamentary Committee Critiques NTA's Performance

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has come under fire from a Parliamentary Standing Committee, which expressed concerns about its lack of confidence-inspiring performance. The committee pointed out significant delays in examination results, notably for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET). Despite accumulating a surplus of ₹448 crore over six years, the NTA has failed to develop adequate in-house capabilities for conducting tests independently.

In light of these issues, the committee has urged the NTA to enhance its systems, infrastructure, and accountability mechanisms to ensure timely and reliable examinations.

About the National Testing Agency

Established in 2017, the NTA is an autonomous and self-sustaining organization under the Ministry of Education, previously known as the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD). The agency is registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860 and operates under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Before the NTA's formation, various organizations—including the University Grants Commission (UGC), Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), and central universities like the University of Delhi (DU) and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)—conducted their entrance examinations.

Origins and Establishment of NTA

The concept of a national exam-conducting body originated from the 1992 Programme of Action under the National Education Policy (NEP) of 1986. In 2010, a committee comprising directors of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) recommended the establishment of such an agency through legislative action, inspired by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) in the USA. The Indian government officially announced the formation of the NTA in 2017, with the Cabinet approving its creation shortly thereafter.

Examinations Conducted by NTA

The NTA is responsible for conducting several key entrance examinations in India, which include:

• Top Undergraduate entrance exams:
• JEE Main – Engineering admissions
• NEET-UG – Medical admissions
• CUET-UG – Admissions to undergraduate programs in central universities

These three exams attract over 50 lakh candidates annually.

• Other Major Exams:
• CUET-PG – Postgraduate admissions
• UGC-NET – Eligibility for assistant professor, JRF, and PhD
• CSIR UGC-NET – PhD admission in science disciplines
• CMAT, Hotel Management JEE, GPAT
• Entrance exams for DU, JNU, IIFT, ICAR, and others

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What criticisms were made against the NTA by the Parliamentary Committee?
Answer: The Parliamentary Committee criticized the NTA for delays in examination results, particularly for CUET, and called for improvements in its accountability and operational efficiency.

Q2. When was the National Testing Agency established?
Answer: The National Testing Agency was established in 2017 as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education to conduct entrance examinations in India.

Q3. What was the financial surplus reported by the NTA?
Answer: The NTA reported a financial surplus of ₹448 crore over six years, which has raised concerns about its operational capabilities and infrastructure development.

Q4. Which major entrance exams are conducted by the NTA?
Answer: The NTA conducts major entrance exams such as JEE Main, NEET-UG, and CUET-UG, drawing millions of candidates each year.

Q5. What historical context led to the formation of the NTA?
Answer: The formation of the NTA was inspired by recommendations from a committee of IIT directors in 2010 and earlier discussions on the need for a national exam-conducting body dating back to the 1992 NEP.

UPSC Practice MCQs

Question 1: What year was the National Testing Agency established?
A) 2015
B) 2016
C) 2017
D) 2018
Correct Answer: C

Question 2: Which exam is NOT conducted by the NTA?
A) NEET-UG
B) JEE Main
C) UGC-NET
D) CAT
Correct Answer: D

Question 3: What financial surplus did the NTA report?
A) ₹300 crore
B) ₹400 crore
C) ₹448 crore
D) ₹500 crore
Correct Answer: C

Question 4: The NTA was established under which ministry?
A) Ministry of Finance
B) Ministry of Human Resource Development
C) Ministry of Education
D) Ministry of Science and Technology
Correct Answer: C

Question 5: Which of the following is a recommendation made by the Parliamentary Committee regarding the NTA?
A) To reduce examination fees
B) To improve accountability mechanisms
C) To increase the number of exams
D) To merge with other agencies
Correct Answer: B