National Testing Agency May Soon Conduct All Entrance Exams

The National Testing Agency (NTA) may soon conduct the JEE Advanced exam, which is presently being conducted by the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) apart from JEE Mains and NEET already conducted by NTA.

The HRD has written to all the IITs about NTA conducting the exams, however a decision is yet to finalised on this. Also, the NTA might soon conduct CAT exam as well and the same has been notified to the IIMs as well. IITs have denied exams to be conducted by any other agencies in the past.

As per a letter sent by the ministry quoted in HT, “Although the cabinet has decided that initially the NTA will conduct the exams currently being conducted by CBSE, it may be decided whether the IIT system would like to entrust the conduct of JEE-Advanced exams to NTA with a condition that the setting of the question papers and the proctoring would continue to vest with the IIT system”.

IITs have been asked to discuss about the prospect of NTA conducting the exams and finalise their decision latest by December 15. An IIT Director quoted HT, “The NTA is yet to become completely operational and we are not very sure about handing over the charge to them. We have been given time and we will decide by then.”

The letter also said the NTA was being registered as a body under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, with IITs, IIMs, IISERs and centrally funded universities as joint owners of the organisation. HRD ministry will provide support for the proper infrastructure for NTA to be operating soon.

“The tests to be conducted by NTA will be online, duly scrutinised and standardised. The test design will be done scientifically and as per user requirements,” the letter read.

The Union cabinet had finalised a proposal on November 10, for creating a National Testing Agency which will undertake all entrance exams which are currently being handled by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

Rajguru Tandon

BW Reporters The author is a correspondent with BW Businessworld with keen interest in HR and employee welfare.