NEET UG 2024 : NTA gets new director general; Subodh Kumar Singh put on 'compulsory wait'

NEW DELHI: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed Pradeep Singh Kharola, as the director general of the National Testing Agency (NTA), on an additional charge basis. Subodh Kumar Singh, IAS, the previous director general of NTA, has been placed on ‘compulsory wait’ in the Department of Personnel and Training.

Pradeep Singh Kharola who is currently the chairman and managing director of the India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO), will serve until a permanent appointment is made.

The ministry of education, has also constituted a high-level committee to ensure transparent, smooth and fair conduct of examinations through the NTA. The committee will be chaired by the former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and chairman of the board of governors at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, K Radhakrishnan.

Speaking about the committee, the chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), M Jagadesh Kumar, said: "Forming a High-Level Committee of Experts with K Radhakrishnan as Chairman is a welcome step towards assuring entrance examinations' transparent, smooth, and fair conduct.”

“The Committee's emphasis on recommending reforms in the examination process, enhancing data security protocols, and improving the NTA's structure and functioning will strengthen our national entrance examination system. Protecting student's interests and their future is our priority,” he further said.

According to the official press release, the committee will provide recommendations on examination process reforms, enhancements in data security protocols, and improvements in the structure and functioning of the NTA and submit its report to the ministry within two months from the date of this order.