Amidst the ongoing uproar and protests over the NEET paper leak, preparations have begun for major changes in the National Testing Agency (NTA). Under this process, NTA removed 47 officials on Friday. Legal and criminal action will also be initiated against some of these officials, and further steps for reform are being taken. This is part of a large-scale restructuring of the NTA, an agency embroiled in paper leak controversies. According to sources, the government wants to make major changes in the structure of the agency. NTA is likely to be reorganized next month, which will involve significant changes in its functioning and administrative systems. Major changes are also expected in the outsourcing system of the agency. The existing model of conducting examinations and related processes is being reviewed, and a new system will be implemented based on the recommendations of an expert committee.
**Preparation for leak-proof examination system**
The government aims to establish a leak-proof examination system that completely prevents incidents like paper leaks and strengthens the transparency and credibility of national level examinations. NTA conducts around 15 to 20 national level entrance examinations every year including JEE, NEET and CUET. Recently, questions were raised on the functioning of the agency following the paper leak controversies, which initiated a major process of reform. Earlier, amid widespread protests over the NEET paper leak, the Center had transferred a senior bureaucrat in the education ministry. A government notification issued late on Thursday night said that Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi has been removed from his post and Naresh Pal Gangwar has been appointed in his place.
**Action against NTA on paper leak**
NTA was established as a self-financing institution. It is headed by the Director General, who is appointed by the Central Government under the Central Staffing Scheme. At present, 22 employees are working on deputation in NTA. Besides this, 38 contractual employees and 138 outsourced employees are currently working. An employee has been absorbed into NTA from his parent department. The government also created 16 new posts on October 29, 2024; Of these, eight are at director level and eight are at joint director level. The appointed officials monitor the examination related activities and ensure that necessary management and security measures are implemented to ensure smooth and fair conduct of the examinations.
**Gangwar appointed new secretary of Higher Education Department**
Naresh Pal Gangwar, a 1994 batch IAS officer of Rajasthan cadre, is expected to play a key role in strengthening the examination infrastructure of the country. Officials have indicated that their immediate priorities may include increasing transparency in national-level entrance and recruitment examinations, restoring the confidence of students affected by the recent examination controversies, and reviewing the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA).
This move of the Center is being seen as an attempt to strengthen accountability in the examination system and accelerate reforms. Naresh Pal Gangwar is a 1994 batch IAS officer of Rajasthan cadre with nearly three decades of administrative experience. Before this new appointment, he worked as Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
**Gangwar has held many important positions**
Before deputation to the Centre, Gangwar held several important positions in Rajasthan, including the posts of District Collector in various districts and Chief Secretary in the state government. He is credited with playing a key role in formulating the solar policy of Rajasthan from 2010 to 2014, during the initial phase of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission. During his tenure in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, he also contributed to policy making related to pollution control and hazardous waste management.
