New Delhi: In a major administrative crackdown following widespread outrage over examination leaks, the Union Government has initiated a sweeping overhaul of the National Testing Agency.
As part of these measures, 47 officials from the agency have been terminated from their positions, with authorities actively preparing legal and criminal proceedings against those found linked to administrative lapses and irregularities.
The action marks one of the largest structural cleanups within the premier entrance examination body since its inception. Senior government officials confirmed that internal operational protocols, security mechanisms, and outsourcing practices are undergoing a comprehensive review to prevent leaks and ensure transparency in future national-level tests.
This administrative purge follows significant reshuffling within the top bureaucracy, including the recent transfer of Higher Education Secretary Shri Vineet Joshi.
In a top-level administrative reshuffle by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, senior IAS officer Shri Naresh Pal Gangwar has been appointed as the new Secretary of the Department of Higher Education.
Shri Gangwar, a 1994-batch officer from the Rajasthan cadre, succeeds Shri Vineet Joshi, who has been transferred to serve as Secretary in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. Additionally, Shri T.K. Anil Kumar, a 1995-batch IAS officer, has been named Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy.
The leadership changes coincide with the government tightening administrative control over the National Testing Agency. Alongside the termination of 47 officials, the Union Government has deployed senior IAS-level bureaucrats directly into core NTA operations to oversee test security, financial management, and logistical integrity. Specialized officers from auditing and revenue backgrounds have been appointed as Joint Directors and Joint Secretaries to maintain strict internal oversight.
To further safeguard future entrance exams, authorities are accelerating plans to transition high-stakes examinations like NEET entirely to computer-based test formats, while establishing dedicated technology and finance positions within the testing agency. Legislative steps are also underway to empower fast-track judicial process against paper leak networks.
Alongside internal disciplinary actions, the central government is preparing legislative amendments to the Public Examinations Act. The proposed changes aim to introduce fast-track courts for paper leak cases and enforce even stricter penalties, including longer prison sentences for offenders, in an effort to restore public trust in the national examination system.