government-forms-panel-to-reform-nta-functioning

The Ministry of Education has constituted a high-level committee of seven experts to ensure the transparent, smooth, and fair conduct of examinations, following allegations of irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2024.

 

The committee, headed by Koppillil Radhakrishnan, former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman and current Chairman of the Board of Governors at IIT Kanpur, aims to reform the examination process and improve data security protocols within the National Testing Agency (NTA).

 

The NTA, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education, is responsible for conducting several key entrance exams including NEET and UGC-NET. Recent controversies surrounding the integrity of these examinations have prompted the ministry to take action.

 

Who is K. Radhakrishnan?

Koppillil Radhakrishnan, born on August 29, 1949, in Irinjalakuda, Kerala, began his career as an Avionics Engineer at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.

 

He assumed multiple pivotal roles at ISRO, including Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and the National Remote Sensing Agency.

 

From November 1, 2009, he held the concurrent positions of Chairman of the Space Commission, Secretary of the Department of Space, Government of India, and Chairman of ISRO.

 

His notable contributions to space launch systems, space applications, and space program management have solidified his reputation as a leading figure in India's space endeavours. 

 

During his tenure in the Ministry of Earth Sciences (2000-2005), Radhakrishnan was the Founder and Director of the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) and the first Project Director of the Indian National Tsunami Warning System.

 

Panel members

 

Alongside Radhakrishnan, the committee includes:

• Dr Randeep Guleria, Former Director, AIIMS Delhi
• Professor BJ Rao, Vice Chancellor, Central University of Hyderabad
• Professor Ramamurthy K, Professor Emeritus, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras
• Pankaj Bansal, Co-Founder, People Strong and Board Member, Karmayogi Bharat
• Professor Aditya Mittal, Dean of Student Affairs, IIT Delhi
• Govind Jaiswal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Education, Government of India

Committee mandate

 

The committee's mandate includes making recommendations on three critical areas:

1. Reforming the Examination Process: The panel will analyze the end-to-end examination process, suggesting measures to enhance system efficiency and prevent breaches. A thorough review of the NTA's Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and protocols will be conducted.
   
   

2. Enhancing Data Security Protocols: Evaluating current data security processes, the panel will recommend improvements to bolster the security of examination data. This includes scrutinizing the protocols related to paper setting and other examination processes to ensure robustness.
   
   

3. Restructuring the NTA: Recommendations will be made on the NTA's organizational structure and functioning. The committee will clearly define roles and responsibilities at every level, assess the current Grievance Redressal Mechanism, identify areas for improvement, and propose measures to enhance efficiency.

The committee is expected to submit its report to the Ministry of Education within two months. The ministry has also stated that the committee can co-opt any Subject Matter Expert to assist in their task.

This proactive step by the Ministry of Education comes at a critical time when the credibility of national examinations are under scrutiny.