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Synopsis

The Department of Higher Education, under the Ministry of Education, has announced the formation of a High-Level Committee of Experts tasked with ensuring the transparent, smooth, and fair conduct of examinations administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA). This committee will focus on recommending reforms to the examination process, enhancing data security protocols, and improving the structure and functioning of the NTA. The committee is expected to submit its findings within two months.

The committee is chaired by Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, former Chairman of ISRO and Chairman of the Board of Governors at IIT Kanpur. Other members include Dr. Randeep Guleria, former Director of AIIMS Delhi; Prof. B J Rao, Vice Chancellor of the Central University of Hyderabad; Prof. Ramamurthy K, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Civil Engineering at IIT Madras; Shri Pankaj Bansal, Co-Founder of People Strong and Board Member of Karmayogi Bharat; Prof. Aditya Mittal, Dean of Student Affairs at IIT Delhi; and Shri Govind Jaiswal, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Education, who will serve as the Member Secretary.

The committee's terms of reference encompass several key areas. For examination process reform, the committee will analyse the entire examination system, suggesting improvements to enhance efficiency and prevent breaches. They will also review and recommend ways to strengthen the NTA's Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and monitoring mechanisms to ensure compliance at all levels.

Regarding data security, the committee will evaluate current data security processes and protocols, recommending improvements to fortify the system. This includes examining security protocols for paper-setting and other examination-related processes, with the goal of making the system more robust.

In terms of the structure and functioning of the NTA, the committee will provide recommendations for organisational improvements, clearly defining roles and responsibilities to implement the suggested reforms. They will also assess the NTA's current grievance redressal mechanism, identifying areas for enhancement to boost its efficiency.

The committee has the authority to co-opt any subject matter expert to assist in its work, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation and robust recommendations. The Ministry anticipates that the committee's report will pave the way for significant improvements in the conduct of examinations across the country.

 

Source: PIB