'Conduct audit of all exam processes, take corrective steps': Centre to NTA after 2 major exams disrupted

In the aftermath of two major disruptions to the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET), the Union education ministry has tasked the National Testing Agency (NTA) with conducting a comprehensive audit of all examination procedures. Prime Minister Pralhad Joshi convened a meeting on Monday with senior NTA officials, including the director general and others, to review the steps taken by the agency following recent examination-related issues.

The NTA has reportedly removed over 50 staff members and is filling ten new professional leadership positions, including roles in cybersecurity, test security, and research and development. The agency is also seeking domain experts from the private sector to bolster its cybersecurity, psychometrics, question-paper design, and other specialized areas.

The ministry has directed NTA to implement a thorough overhaul of its Confidential Operations (CONOPS) architecture, including the use of secluded rooms, air-gapped systems, and strict device-deposit protocols. CONOPS refers to secure protocols for the preparation and delivery of question papers, introduced following recommendations from a high-level committee headed by former ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan.

The UGC-NET, held twice a year in computer-based test mode, determines eligibility for JRF, assistant professor posts, and PhD admissions in 87 subjects. The recent disruptions resulted from factual, typographical, and translation errors, as well as the inclusion of questions from previous examinations. The panel's findings will not be made public, but they formed the basis for NTA's decision to re-conduct the examinations after identifying these issues.