NTA Strengthens Exam Security with Expert Panel
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has empanelled approximately 5,000 experts, including academicians, scientists, researchers, educators, translators, and moderators, to bolster exam security. This initiative follows the NEET-UG paper leak in May of this year.
Shift in Headquarters
As part of a broader overhaul, the NTA’s headquarters have relocated from Okhla, South East Delhi, to the Government of India Press building on Minto Road.
Building a Large Question Bank
The NTA is developing a common pool of questions – a large question bank – to prevent paper leaks. Experts will be involved in setting, vetting, translating, and verifying questions without knowledge of the specific examination or question.
Empanelment Process
The empanelment process involves a four-layer verification system. Initially, applicant details and qualifications are checked. Subsequently, a subject matter committee evaluates academic standing and experience. Background checks are also conducted to ensure experts aren’t affiliated with coaching institutes or have prepared question banks.
Non-Disclosure Agreements
Empanelled experts must sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement, which they will reaffirm at the start of each assignment. This ensures the confidentiality of the work.
Exam-Agnostic Approach
The NTA is adopting an “exam-agnostic” approach, aiming to reduce reliance on specific vendors or technologies in the examination process. This includes working on an exam-agnostic approach to ensure that the entire examination-conducting process is not dependent on any particular vendor, technology or platform.
Exams Covered
The NTA conducts major entrance examinations, including JEE (Main), CUET (UG and PG), UGC-NET, CSIR-NET, and NEET. Except for NEET, all other examinations are conducted in the Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode.
Ongoing Recruitment
The NTA continues to invite Expressions of Interest (EOI) for subject matter experts and translators. The EOI remains open, and experts are being added to the panel throughout the year.
Source: The Indian Express. Featured image credit: The Indian Express.
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