News Brief
NEET Controversy: Former ISRO Chief Led Government Panel Seeks Inputs From Parents And Students To Reform National Testing Agency
Students check NEET medical entrance exam results (Representative Image) (Raj K Raj/Hindustan Times via GettyImages)
A government-appointed panel to reviews the functioning and structure of the NTA, the central exam body which has been under fire over irregularities in NEET-UG examination, has sought suggestions from students and parents.
The seven-member panel headed by former ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan is "seeking suggestions, views, and ideas from stakeholders, particularly students and parents, from 27 June to 7 July, the Education Ministry said on Friday (28 June).
The members of the panel include former AIIMS Delhi director Dr Randeep Guleria, University of Hyderabad vice chancellor B J Rao, IIT Madras professor emeritus Ramamurthy K, People Strong co-founder Pankaj Bansal, IIT Delhi dean (student affairs) Aditya Mittal, and Education Ministry's joint secretary Govind Jaiswal.
The committee aims to recommend reforms in the examination process, enhance data security protocols, and review the structure and operations of the National Testing Agency (NTA).
The committee will submit its report to the Education Ministry within two months.
Further, the ministry has allowed the committee to co-opt any Subject Matter Expert to assist them.
According to the Ministry of Education, the panel will make recommendations on:
(i) Reform in mechanism of examination process
(b) To conduct a thorough review of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)/protocols of the NTA, and suggest measures to strengthen these procedures/protocols along with monitoring mechanism to ensure compliance at every level.
(ii) Improvement in Data Security protocols
(a) To evaluate the existing data security processes and protocols of NTA and recommend measures for its improvement.
(b) To examine existing security protocols related to the paper-setting and other processes for different examinations and make recommendations to enhance robustness of system.
(iii) Structure and Functioning of National Testing Agency
(a) To make recommendations on the organisational structure and functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA) for implementation of recommendations given under point (i) and (ii) and clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of functionaries at every level.
(b) Assess the current Grievance Redressal Mechanism of the NTA, identify areas of improvement and make recommendations for enhancing its efficiency.
