New Delhi: The government on Saturday removed National Testing Agency (NTA) Director General Subodh Singh from the post amid irregularities in the NEET and UGC-NET examinations. The Ministry of Education (MoE) also postponed the NEET-PG examination scheduled to be held on Sunday.
The Ministry appointed India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) Chairman and Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola with additional charge of the testing agency till the appointment of a regular incumbent.
Informing about the appointment the MoE made a post on X, “Ministry of Education constitutes a High-Level Committee of Experts under the chairmanship of Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, Former Chairman, ISRO and Chairman BoG, IIT Kanpur, to ensure transparent, smooth and fair conduct of examinations.”
“The Committee to make recommendations on Reform in mechanism of examination process, improvement in Data Security protocols and structure and functioning of NTA. The Committee to submit its report to the Ministry within 2 months”, the MoE further said.
The formation of a seven-member high-level committee, led by former ISRO chief K. Radhakrishnan, was announced just hours after the government’s decision. This panel is tasked with ensuring the transparent, smooth, and fair administration of examinations by the NTA.
“Transparent, tamper-free and zero-error examinations is a commitment. Setting up of the high-level committee of experts is the first of a series of step to improve efficiency of the examination process, put an end to all possible malpractices, strengthen data security protocols and overhaul and reform the NTA. Student interests and their bright future will always be our govt’s top priority”, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said.
Earlier, the MoE cancelled the UGC-NET exam on Wednesday evening; just a day after it was held across the nation following prima facie indications that the integrity of the exam was compromised.
