Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NTA
Why in the News?
A seven-member high-level committee was constituted under the chairmanship of K. Radhakrishnan, former ISRO Chairman, by the Ministry of Education to reform the National Testing Agency (NTA).
About National Testing Agency (NTA)
- NTA is a premier, specialist, autonomous and self-sustained testing organization to conducts entrance examinations for admission/fellowship in higher educational institutions.
- It was established in 2017 with a grant amount of Rs.25 crore from the Union Government.
- NTA is responsible for conducting exams such as:
- Joint Entrance Examination – Main (JEE Main)
- National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) as well as NEET PG
- National Eligibility Test (NET)
- Common Management Admission Test (CMAT)
- Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT).
- The NTA is chaired by an eminent educationist who will be appointed by the Ministry of Education.
- There will be a Board of Governors comprising members from user institutions.
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National Testing Agency (NTA) Under Scrutiny
- The NTA has been criticized after the NEET paper leak controversy and the subsequent scrapping of exams like UGC-NET due to “lack of integrity”.
- The committee aims to establish a robust process for conducting various entrance examinations end to end.
NTA Reform Panel: Committee Composition
- Committee Head: K. Radhakrishnan, former Chairman of ISRO and Chairman of the Board of Governors at IIT-Kanpur.
- Two-Month Timeline: The committee aims to meet ten times over the next two months to develop comprehensive recommendations.
- Key Issues and Focus Areas:
- Data Security Protocol: Develop a manual to fix a data security protocol to prevent question paper leaks.
- Printing and Process Integrity: Review processes for printing question papers, onboarding printers, and training staff to minimize external participation.
- Organisational Restructuring: Consider adding a data security vertical in the NTA organogram and implementing transparent processes, requiring organizational restructuring.
- Examination Investigation and Security:
- Root Cause Analysis: The committee will investigate the initial cause of question paper leaks to identify and plug gaps.
- Modes of Examination: Examine different modes of conducting examinations:
- JEE (Mains) and JEE (Advanced) are computer-based tests.
- NEET-UG is conducted in pen-paper Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) mode.
Challenges faced by NTA
- Infrastructure Limitations: Currently, India lacks the infrastructure to conduct computer-based tests online for more than three lakh students simultaneously.
- Large-Scale Exams: NEET-UG involves up to 24 lakh students appearing in pen and paper OMR mode at once.
Conclusion
- The reforms are critical to restoring the integrity of entrance examinations in India, ensuring secure and fair testing processes.
- The committee’s recommendations will play a pivotal role in shaping the future operations of the NTA and entrance examination protocols.
Back2Basic: University Grants Commission (UGC)
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Details |
| Establishment |
- Came into existence on 28th December, 1953.
- Became a statutory organization by an Act of Parliament in 1956.
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| Legislation |
The UGC Act, 1956. |
| Nodal Ministry |
Ministry of Human Resource Development (now Ministry of Education). |
| Responsibilities |
- Providing funds to universities and colleges.
- Coordination, determination, and maintenance of standards of teaching, examination, and research in institutions of higher education.
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| Mandate |
- Promoting and coordinating university education.
- Determining and maintaining standards of teaching, examination, and research in universities.
- Framing regulations on minimum standards of education.
- Monitoring developments in collegiate and university education.
- Disbursing grants to universities and colleges.
- Serving as a link between the Union and state governments and institutions of higher learning.
- Advising Central and State governments on measures necessary for the improvement of university education.
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| Unique Distinction |
Only grant-giving agency in India with the dual role of funding and maintaining standards in higher education institutions. |
| Functions |
- Promoting and coordinating university education.
- Determining and maintaining standards of teaching, examination, and research in universities.
- Framing regulations on minimum standards of education.
- Monitoring developments in collegiate and university education.
- Disbursing grants to universities and colleges.
- Serving as a link between the Union and state governments and institutions of higher learning.
- Advising Central and State governments on measures necessary for the improvement of university education.
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| Link Role |
Acts as a vital link between Union and State governments and institutions of higher learning. |
| Advisory Role |
Advises the Central and State governments on necessary measures for the improvement of university education. |
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