The National Testing Agency removed approximately 600 subject-matter experts as part of a sweeping overhaul to secure national examinations [1].
This restructuring follows a series of glitches and paper leaks that compromised the integrity of high-stakes testing. The move represents a systemic attempt to restore public trust in the agency's ability to conduct fair and secure exams.
The revamp began in early June 2026, following a government order issued on June 3, 2026, which demanded that the agency fix accountability [2]. As part of these measures, the NTA has rolled out a new four-tier paper-scrutiny system [1]. This layered approach is designed to add multiple checkpoints of verification before an exam is finalized, reducing the risk of unauthorized leaks.
Beyond personnel and procedural changes, the agency is relocating its physical operations. The NTA headquarters will move from its current Okhla campus in South Delhi to a new location in central Delhi [1]. This shift is part of the broader effort to reorganize the agency's administrative structure.
The removal of the 600 experts [1] signals a clean break from previous staffing models that the government believes contributed to the security failures. By purging a significant portion of its subject-matter workforce and implementing stricter scrutiny, the NTA aims to eliminate the vulnerabilities that allowed previous leaks to occur.
Officials said the changes are necessary to ensure that future examinations are conducted without interference. The government's order to fix accountability [2] serves as the primary driver for these structural and personnel shifts, placing the burden of security on the agency's leadership and its new operational framework.
“The National Testing Agency removed approximately 600 subject-matter experts.”
The scale of this overhaul suggests that the Indian government views the previous exam leaks not as isolated incidents, but as systemic failures. By combining personnel purges with a new multi-layered verification process and a change in physical location, the NTA is attempting to dismantle the existing operational culture to prevent future breaches.
