India: Testing agency revamp follows renewed criticism
India's education ministry has directed the NTA to audit its exam process amid renewed calls for the agency to be dissolved. Meanwhile, Indian sailors are allegedly being pressured to sail through the Strait of Hormuz.
On Tuesday, August 18, 2026, India's National Testing Agency (NTA) is undergoing a revamp following renewed criticism over recent entrance exams. The agency has sacked more staff and will undergo an audit, with the goal of implementing wide-ranging education reforms. The NTA had to cancel three national entrance exams due to substantial errors in the question papers, including factual errors, translation errors, misspelled names, and repeated questions.
Students will have to retake those exams in September. The controversy echoes a previous medical entrance exam cancellation in May after a leaked question paper, which sparked nationwide protests that led to former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. Opposition leaders and student bodies have renewed calls for the NTA to be dissolved.
In response, the NTA has removed more than 50 staff members and is implementing a complete overhaul of its Confidential Operations protocols, including secluded rooms, air-gapped systems, and device-deposit protocols.
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