New Delhi: In a major crackdown linked to the NEET paper leak controversy, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has terminated 47 officials and is set to initiate legal and criminal action against some of them, officials said on Friday.
The move comes a day after Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi was transferred to the Panchayati Raj Ministry amid mounting scrutiny over examination-related irregularities.
"The NTA is set to undergo a complete overhaul, and more reformative actions will follow. At least 47 officials have been terminated, and legal and criminal action will be initiated against some of them," a senior official said.
The action comes amid widespread outrage over alleged paper leaks and CBSE digital evaluation glitches, which have sparked nationwide protests led by students demanding greater accountability in the examination system.
Protests centred at Delhi's Jantar Mantar have also drawn support from several Opposition parties, which continue to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
As part of the restructuring, the NTA has issued advertisements for professional appointments at the General Manager level and has opened applications for 16 Young Professionals through the Union Public Service Commission's Pratibha Setu portal.
Officials said further recruitment and empanelment across the 10 functional verticals recommended by the High-Level Committee of Experts will be undertaken in the coming weeks.
"The measures notified today, along with the Expression of Interest for a fresh empanelment of Subject Matter Experts and Translators issued separately, are part of a systematic strengthening of the academic, operational, technological and integrity capabilities of the NTA," the official added.
