The National Testing Agency (NTA), in a major overhaul following the NEET UG 2026 row, on Friday dismissed 47 officials in what is being described as one of the most significant shake-ups in the history of the country's premier examination body. The sweeping action comes amid sustained nationwide student protests over alleged paper leaks and examination irregularities, with the Centre signalling that further reforms are on the horizon.

Protests against paper leak in New Delhi

Sources familiar with the development said the move forms part of a broader restructuring exercise aimed at restoring public confidence in India's examination system, which has faced intense criticism over repeated allegations of question paper leaks. In addition to the dismissals, legal and criminal proceedings are expected to be initiated against some of the officials as part of efforts to strengthen accountability within the agency.

Centre pushes for sweeping examination reforms

According to sources quoted by news agency ANI, the dismissals are only the beginning of a comprehensive revamp of the NTA. The restructuring is intended to introduce far-reaching examination reforms and tighten oversight mechanisms to safeguard the integrity of national-level entrance tests.

"National Testing Agency has terminated 47 officials from their service. Legal and criminal actions will also be taken against some of these officials. This is part of a complete overhaul of NTA that has been in controversy over paper leaks," the sources told ANI.

The development comes as the Union Government intensifies its efforts to reform the country's examination system following months of protests over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations.

Staff crunch under scanner

Notably, the overhaul has also drawn attention to the agency's staffing structure. On July 22, the Ministry of Education informed the Lok Sabha that the NTA was operating with just 24 permanent employees against a sanctioned strength of 39 posts.

To bridge the gap, the agency has been relying heavily on 73 contractual employees and 124 outsourced personnel to manage its day-to-day operations. The staffing pattern has fuelled fresh discussions on whether the agency requires structural reforms to ensure greater efficiency, accountability and security.

Outsourcing model being reviewed

Sources indicated that one of the major reforms under consideration is a review of the NTA's outsourcing model. The proposed changes are aimed at strengthening examination security, improving operational oversight and minimising the risk of future paper leaks.

The review follows sustained scrutiny over the agency's functioning in the wake of allegations surrounding the NEET examination and growing demands for a more transparent and secure examination process. The overhaul also comes after nationwide student protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which called for stringent action against those responsible for examination malpractices.

The proposed reforms gained further momentum after Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi announced that the Centre would introduce stronger legal measures, including fast-track courts, to ensure the speedy trial of paper leak cases.

The NTA conducts more than 20 national-level entrance examinations, including the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and the Common University Entrance Test (CUET). As the agency plays a pivotal role in admissions and recruitment examinations across India, the government's latest intervention is expected to have far-reaching implications for the credibility and security of the country's examination system.