NEET Row: Centre Forms Expert Panel Headed By Former ISRO Chief K Radhakrishnan To Ensure Fair Conduct Of Exams — All About It

Amid the NEET and UGC-NET controversies, the Ministry of Education has set up a high-Level committee of experts to ensure transparent, smooth and fair conduct of examinations through National Testing Agency (NTA).

The committee will be headed by former ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan.

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.

According to the Ministry of Education, the panel will make recommendations on:

(i) Reform in mechanism of examination process

(a) To analyse the end-to-end examination process and suggest measures to improve efficiency of the system and to forestall any possible breach.

(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.

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.

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