Indian Prime Minister Examination body The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted only 29 exams in 2024, a new low since 2019. and administrative setbacks, the company found itself grappling with a sharp decline in performance.
The drastic drop was revealed in parliament when the Department for Education revealed that the number of exams held this year was more than halved from the 66 exams held in 2023. The number of registered students has also dropped significantly, from 133,000 in 2023 to 8.578 million in 2024.
NTA exam trajectory: Five-year overview
Established in 2017, NTA has steadily expanded its coverage over the years, administering major entrance exams such as NEET for medical courses, JEE Main for engineering students and CUET for undergraduate admissions.
After holding 23 exams in 2019, the National Examinations Bureau quickly increased its efforts, holding 35 exams in 2020, 45 exams in 2021, and 44 exams in 2022. 133,000 students took part in 66 exams. However, by 2024, the trend had reversed dramatically, with just 29 exams held and 85.78 million students enrolled – a figure that reflects more of the NTA’s early years than recent progress. Here is an overview of the number of exams conducted by NTA in the past five years:
NTA Exam Pattern: Technology and Exam Format
Data provided by the Ministry of Education also sheds light on how the NTA will conduct exams in 2024.
The remaining exams include four mixed (CBT plus written) tests, three fully written tests, seven tests with a mix of written and interview assessments, two English shorthand tests and one remotely proctored test. CUET UG is one of the most important exams of NTA and is conducted in CBT and paper-pencil mode. However, going forward, the UGC has confirmed that CUET UG will fully transition to the CBT format by 2025 as part of wider exam reforms.
NTA in trouble: Exam postponement and question paper leak allegations derail operations
The sharp drop in the number of exams in 2024 coincides with the controversy surrounding the management of the NTA. Major exams such as the Common University Entrance Test for Postgraduate Studies (CUET PG) and the University Grants Commission’s National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) have been postponed or canceled due to allegations of paper leaks and technical issues. The missteps prompted widespread criticism and an investigation into the agency’s operations.
In response, former NTA director general Subodh Kumar Singh was made to wait and Pradeep Singh Kharola was appointed as the new director general to oversee the agency recovery status.
In addition to administrative issues, delays in payments to school staff serving as exam staff have added to the NTA’s troubles, further highlighting its operational inefficiencies. Earlier this year, the Ministry of Education admitted at a parliamentary meeting that the National Examinations Agency had postponed exams 15 times since its establishment in 2018.
While most delays have occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, recent disruptions stem from administrative errors, technical glitches and mismanagement.
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