Invest in question banks, set question paper closer to examination: House panel to National Testing Agency

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports has urged the National Testing Agency (NTA) to undergo a comprehensive restructuring, addressing institutional and procedural reforms to bolster examination security and restore public faith in the agency. The Committee's 382nd report, "Reforms and Strengthening of the National Testing Agency," proposes several reforms including the development of a continuously updated question bank, permanent hiring of specialized staff, and the establishment of a system for candidates arriving late to exams for valid reasons to participate without added time.

The report suggests that NTA invest in a robust and regularly refreshed question bank to mitigate the risks of paper leaks. It also recommends setting question papers only moments before the examination, utilizing vetted questions from the question bank by experts using digital tools. This approach eliminates the need to print and transport question papers far in advance.

The Committee endorsed the transition to computer-based testing (CBT) and advocated for a phased shift to this format, including NEET-UG. However, it emphasized the need for secure government-owned CBT infrastructure, especially in remote areas, and proposed that NTA should financially support the creation of mid-sized IT labs in schools and colleges, with at least one testing center per district.

The Committee also proposed a mechanism allowing students arriving a few minutes late to take the exam with no extra time, and highlighted the need for addressing manpower shortages by expediting recruitment and developing a permanent cadre.