Four General Managers and 16 Young Professionals will strengthen exam security, assessment systems, test-centre operations and digital forensics
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has begun a major organisational restructuring after terminating the services of 47 officials amid concerns surrounding the integrity and administration of high-stakes examinations. The agency has now announced recruitment for four General Manager-level posts and the engagement of 16 Young Professionals through the Union Public Service Commission’s Pratibha Setu portal.
The changes follow recommendations of the High-Level Committee of Experts chaired by Prof. K. Radhakrishnan. The committee was formed to examine issues related to examination security, technology, test-centre management, outsourcing and institutional accountability.
The restructuring is intended to restore public confidence in national entrance examinations and build stronger internal expertise within the agency.
Four specialist General Manager posts
The four contractual General Manager positions will initially be offered for three years. Each role will focus on a critical part of the NTA’s examination system.
Assessment research and psychometrics
The head of this vertical will oversee question banks, assessment design, normalisation, equating and calibration. The role may also support the development of computer-adaptive testing and AI-assisted assessment systems.
Psychometrics is especially important for large-scale examinations because it helps ensure that question difficulty, scoring and results are scientifically reliable and fair across different test sessions.
Test-centre network and operations
This General Manager will supervise examination infrastructure across more than 500 Indian cities, as well as selected international centres. Responsibilities will include capacity planning, centre quality, vendor coordination and exam-day operations.
Strong test-centre management is essential for preventing disruptions, ensuring standardised procedures and providing candidates with a secure examination environment.
Information security
The Chief Information Security Officer-level role will lead cybersecurity, data protection compliance and the Security Operations Centre. The appointee will be responsible for strengthening digital systems used for registration, question-paper management, candidate data and result processing.
With more examinations moving to computer-based testing, cybersecurity has become a central part of examination integrity.
Vigilance, investigation and forensics
This position will investigate suspected malpractice and develop in-house digital forensics capabilities. The role will also coordinate with agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation, Intelligence Bureau, Enforcement Directorate, state police and cybercrime units.
The focus will be on identifying evidence, tracking digital activity and strengthening the NTA’s ability to respond to examination-related misconduct.
16 Young Professionals through Pratibha Setu
For the first time, the NTA is using the UPSC’s Pratibha Setu portal to recruit 16 Young Professionals. The positions include:
- 12 posts in academic research.
- Two posts in legal research.
- Two posts in finance and accounts.
The opportunity is open to Civil Services Examination candidates listed on the Pratibha Setu platform. Selected candidates will initially be engaged for 24 months, with the possibility of extension up to 36 months based on performance.
The move is designed to bring talented candidates into the NTA’s operations and create a stronger pipeline of young professionals with research, legal and administrative skills.
Wider reforms ahead
The Ministry of Education has indicated that further recruitment and empanelment will take place across the ten functional verticals recommended by the expert committee. A fresh process has also begun to identify subject-matter experts and translators.
The NTA has traditionally depended heavily on contractual and outsourced personnel. The new approach aims to build more accountable internal capacity and reduce operational dependence on temporary arrangements.
NEET and future examination reforms
The restructuring follows controversies involving high-stakes examinations, including NEET-UG. One major reform under consideration is the shift to computer-based NEET-UG examinations from 2027, potentially conducted over multiple days and at a large network of centres.
The success of the NTA overhaul will ultimately depend on implementation. Specialist appointments, stronger cybersecurity, better test-centre supervision and independent forensic capability could improve transparency and reliability. For millions of students preparing for national entrance examinations, the central test will be whether these reforms produce safer examinations and rebuild trust in the results.
Conclusion
The NTA’s organisational overhaul marks a significant attempt to strengthen the credibility, security and professional management of India’s national entrance examinations. Following the removal of 47 officials, the recruitment of specialist General Managers and 16 Young Professionals indicates a shift towards building stronger in-house expertise in psychometrics, cybersecurity, test-centre operations, investigation and research.
However, the effectiveness of these reforms will depend on how successfully they are implemented across examination centres and digital systems. With further structural changes and possible reforms such as computer-based NEET-UG examinations being considered, students will closely watch whether the new measures result in fewer disruptions, greater transparency and more reliable examination outcomes.
FAQs
1. Why is the NTA undergoing organisational restructuring?
The restructuring follows concerns regarding the administration and integrity of high-stakes examinations. It is also based on recommendations made by the High-Level Committee of Experts chaired by Prof. K. Radhakrishnan, which examined examination security, technology, test-centre management, outsourcing and institutional accountability.
2. How many officials were removed by the NTA?
The NTA terminated the services of 47 officials as part of changes preceding the latest organisational restructuring.
3. What new General Manager positions is the NTA recruiting for?
The NTA has announced four specialist General Manager-level positions covering assessment research and psychometrics, test-centre network and operations, information security, and vigilance, investigation and forensics.
4. How many Young Professionals will be recruited by the NTA?
The NTA plans to engage 16 Young Professionals through the UPSC Pratibha Setu portal. These include 12 positions in academic research, two in legal research and two in finance and accounts.
5. Will NEET-UG become a computer-based examination?
A shift towards computer-based NEET-UG examinations from 2027 is among the reforms under consideration. Such a system could involve examinations being conducted across multiple days and a large network of test centres. A final implementation decision would depend on the concerned authorities.