NEW DELHI, June 22, 2024: The Ministry of Education has constituted a High-Level Committee of Experts to overhaul the examination process managed by the National Testing Agency (NTA), following controversies and social media debates over alleged irregularities in NEET exams.
This step is aimed at ensuring transparency and fairness in the conduct of these critical exams.
The committee, chaired by Dr. K. Radhakrishnan former Chairman of ISRO, and Chairman of the Board of Governors at IIT Kanpur, includes several prominent figures:
1. Dr. Randeep Guleria, Former Director, AIIMS Delhi
2. Prof. B J Rao, Vice Chancellor, Central University of Hyderabad
3. Prof. Ramamurthy K, Professor Emeritus, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras
4. Shri Pankaj Bansal, Co-Founder, People Strong, and Board Member, Karmayogi Bharat
5. Prof. Aditya Mittal, Dean Student Affairs, IIT Delhi
6. Shri Govind Jaiswal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Education, Government of India (Member Secretary)
The committee's Terms of Reference include:
1. Reforming the Examination Process
Analyze the end-to-end examination process and suggest improvements to enhance efficiency and prevent breaches.
Review the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and protocols of the NTA, recommending measures to strengthen and monitor them.
2. Improving Data Security Protocols**:
- Evaluate current data security processes and suggest enhancements.
- Review security protocols related to paper-setting and other processes, recommending ways to improve system robustness.
3. Restructuring the NTA:
- Make recommendations on the NTA’s organizational structure and functioning, aligning them with the proposed examination and data security reforms. - Assess and enhance the NTA’s Grievance Redressal Mechanism.
The committee has two months to deliver its recommendations and can co-opt additional experts as needed.
This initiative is a response to recent social media discussions and student concerns about NEET exam integrity, aiming to restore trust and improve examination management.
