Centre clears two joint secys, joint directors for NTA, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the appointment of two Joint Secretaries and two Joint Directors to the National Testing Agency (NTA).
• Anuja Bapat and Ruchita Vij were appointed as Joint Secretaries for five years.
• Akash Jain and Aditya Rajendra Bhogadhiya were appointed as Joint Directors in the NTA.
• The appointments follow allegations of a paper leak in the NEET-UG 2026 exam, which has been cancelled and is scheduled for retesting on June 21.
• The government announced that the NEET-UG test would be computer-based from next year onwards.

Detailed Insights:

• The appointments aim to strengthen the NTA amidst ongoing investigations into irregularities in the NEET-UG exam.
• The Joint Secretaries positions were created by temporarily upgrading existing Deputy Secretary/Director level posts.
• Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan acknowledged the need for further reforms within the NTA to ensure a zero-error testing process.
• A high-level expert committee formed in 2024 had previously recommended restructuring the NTA with multiple verticals headed by directors.
• The NEET-UG exam, taken by over 22 lakh candidates on May 3, was cancelled due to paper leak allegations.

Key Concepts Involved:

• National Testing Agency (NTA): An agency responsible for conducting entrance examinations for higher education institutions.
• NEET-UG: National Eligibility cum Entrance Test - Undergraduate, a national-level exam for admission to undergraduate medical courses.
• Appointments Committee of the Cabinet: A committee responsible for deciding on high-level appointments in the Government of India.