NTA cuts experts’ tenure over concerns of ‘big mafia’ targeting examination process: Reports

After sacking around 600 experts from its team as part of the education ministry’s examination revamp, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has now shortened the subject experts’ tenure amid concerns over a “big mafia” targeting them to compromise the exam process, the Indian Express reported.

The report cited a senior NTA official, stating that the NTA had learned about the mafia group, trying to compromise the integrity of the subject experts involved in the examination process.

The report comes days after the education ministry overhauled the NTA’s examination system. Pralhad Joshi, the union education minister held a meeting and announced a 4-tier question paper checking system to enhance the security and sanctity of the exam question papers.

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NTA to adopt ‘Need-to-know’ approach

Moreover the NTA has also planned to restrict access to crucial information on a “need-to-know” basis, giving responsibility of the question-paper preparation to separate teams and establishing several checkpoints of physical and digital security, the report added.

The NTA’s strict need-to-know approach will limit access to sensitive information to a few of its members instead of sharing it with the entire team, the report read.

The report further stated that the newly designed security protocol will work at two levels. The first level will include question paper preparation, divided among separate teams, with different people responsible for writing, moderating, translating and finally checking the questions.

The second step will involve monitoring the people and system involved in the process. Personnel entering the strict zones will be physically and electronically checked and their credentials verified, the report said.

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NTA removes 600 subject experts, gets new office

Furthermore, the NTA has also planned to use “air-gapped” computer systems for important operations. The air gap means the systems will be separated from an unsecured external network such as public internet, as per the report.

Recently, the NTA removed 600 subject experts and announced to onboard around 20-25 officials over the next two to three weeks.

In addition, the education minister also declared a new office premises for the NTA, along with a reinforced team of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

The development comes amid the UGC NET June 2026 exam paper cancellation and various student organisations demanding the sacking of the NTA.

The testing agency will conduct the UGC NET June 2026 re-examination for English, Commerce and Sociology subjects on September 9 and 10 after students complained about irregularities in the answer key and question papers.