New Delhi: In one of the most significant internal crackdowns since the National Testing Agency (NTA) came under scrutiny over alleged examination irregularities, 47 officials have been terminated from service as part of a comprehensive overhaul of the testing body, senior Ministry of Education sources told ET Education.
According to the sources, legal and criminal proceedings have also been initiated against some of the officials, while further administrative and structural reforms are expected in the coming weeks as part of a wider clean-up exercise aimed at restoring the credibility of India’s premier examination agency.
“This is not a routine administrative exercise. It is part of a comprehensive restructuring of the NTA aimed at fixing systemic gaps and restoring public confidence in the examination process,” a senior Ministry of Education official said.
The action comes close on the heels of the Centre’s recent bureaucratic reshuffle in the Ministry of Education, which saw new secretaries appointed for both the Department of Higher Education and the Department of School Education and Literacy amid heightened scrutiny of the examination ecosystem. The appointments were widely seen as part of the government’s efforts to strengthen oversight and accelerate reforms across the education sector.
Sources in the ministry said the termination of 47 officials is part of a broader effort to address systemic weaknesses within the NTA, improve accountability and strengthen institutional processes governing the conduct of high-stakes entrance examinations.
“The message is very clear: there will be zero tolerance for misconduct or negligence that compromises the integrity of public examinations. Accountability is being enforced at every level,” another senior official familiar with the development said.
The NTA has been under intense scrutiny following controversies surrounding several national-level entrance examinations over the past two years, particularly allegations of irregularities in NEET-UG. The government has since announced a series of measures to improve examination security, governance and transparency, while promising strict action against those found responsible for lapses.
“The termination of 47 officials is only the first phase. More administrative reforms, process improvements and personnel-related decisions are under active consideration,” another ministry source said, indicating that the ongoing exercise is far from over.
While the identities and roles of the terminated officials have not been made public, sources said the action forms part of a larger institutional restructuring rather than an isolated disciplinary exercise.
“Alongside administrative action, legal and criminal proceedings are being pursued wherever evidence warrants. The objective is to ensure responsibility is fixed and institutional safeguards are strengthened,” the official added.
According to ministry sources, the overhaul extends beyond personnel changes and includes measures to strengthen governance, examination security, technology systems and operational protocols.
“The government wants the NTA to emerge as a more transparent, accountable and future-ready examination agency. This is about rebuilding institutional credibility and ensuring that public confidence in the examination system is fully restored,” a senior official said.
The latest action is expected to be the first in a series of reform measures as the Centre continues its effort to comprehensively revamp the country’s premier entrance examination agency.
