---
title: "NTA removes 600 experts as part of revamp"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/nta-removes-600-experts-revamp-z0ood
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: Politics
published: 2026-08-18T19:02:24.764Z
modified: 2026-08-18T21:30:07.274Z
language: en-IN
---

# NTA removes 600 experts as part of revamp

The National Testing Agency says it is revamping its examination team, removing 600 experts and onboarding new ones as part of an overhaul. The move follows a directive from the Education Ministry and includes a broader upgrade of security, infrastructure, and process controls.

## Key takeaways

- NTA removed 600 experts from its examination team as part of a broader revamp.
- About 20-25 new officials will be inducted in the next two to three weeks, with offices moving to new premises and enhanced CISF security.
- A four-tier paper checking system is being introduced to strengthen scrutiny of examination papers.
- Over 50 staffers were removed, and several senior leadership roles are being filled or advertised, with private-sector domain specialists being recruited for key areas.
- The changes accompany plans for air-gapped systems and device-deposit protocols to protect confidential materials.

## What Happened

The National Testing Agency (NTA) announced a broad revamp of its examination team, stating that 600 existing experts were removed and new experts were brought in as part of the reform efforts. In a meeting on August 17, the Union Education Minister directed that security and related infrastructure be strengthened to ensure smooth examination conduct. In tandem with the staffing change, the NTA said about 20 to 25 new officials would be inducted over the next two to three weeks, and offices would be relocated to new premises with enhanced security provided by CISF teams.

The revamp also includes the implementation of a four-tier system for checking examination papers to strengthen scrutiny. Officials described the shift as part of an operational overhaul that encompasses improving the confidential handling of question papers, including via air-gapped systems and device-deposit protocols for personnel with access to sensitive information.

Additionally, more than fifty staffers were removed from the NTA, and several senior leadership roles — such as Chief Technology Officer, Chief Finance Officer, Chief Information Security Officer, and General Managers for Test Security, Research and Development, and Psychometrics — are being filled with new appointments or advertisements for such positions. Officials noted that domain specialists from the private sector would be recruited for cybersecurity, psychometrics, and question-paper design, among other specialized areas.

The changes come after the NTA’s earlier decision to conduct a re-examination for UGC-NET exams in Sociology, Commerce, and English, following prior exam-content concerns. This follows a separate incident of a paper leak that led to the cancellation of the NEET-UG exam earlier in the year. The Education Ministry has directed a comprehensive audit of exam processes and corrective actions, and has emphasized strict adherence to established exam protocols.

Overall, the revamp is framed as an overhaul of the Confidential Operations (CONOPS) architecture to improve monitoring, security, and governance of examination paper creation and handling.

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/nta-removes-600-experts-revamp-z0ood
Reported from: Multiple Sources