NTA must build expertise like UPSC: SC seeks security and infra roadmap

The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to ensure permanent reforms at the NTA, drawing on UPSC's institutional expertise and seeking implementation of the Radhakrishnan Committee's recommendations. The focus is on stronger infrastructure, cybersecurity, manpower and long-term examination security.

In Short

• Bench asked how staffing, offices and exam infrastructure are being strengthened
• Judges examined cyber security, sovereign databases and question paper storage safeguards
• Centre said Radhakrishnan panel recommendations were accepted fully and implemented

The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought a concrete roadmap from the Centre to overhaul the National Testing Agency (NTA), emphasising that reforms must create lasting institutional capacity rather than rely on ad-hoc measures, amid repeated concerns over NEET-UG paper leaks and exam security.

A bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe sought details on the implementation of the Radhakrishnan Committee’s recommendations and the infrastructure, manpower and security mechanisms being created within the NTA, as reported by LiveLaw.

SC FOCUSES ON INSTITUTIONALISING REFORMS

Justice Narasimha said the Court was particularly concerned with ensuring that the committee’s recommendations were institutionalised. The bench sought details about the NTA’s organisational structure, officers and staff, office premises, security arrangements and physical infrastructure.

The Court said an agency entrusted with conducting major national examinations must develop scientific expertise, institutional memory and the ability to continuously upgrade itself.

Citing the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) as an example, Justice Narasimha said its regular conduct of examinations had helped it build institutional memory and expertise over time.

MEHTA SAYS REFORMS BEING IMPLEMENTED

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, told the bench that the government had accepted the Radhakrishnan Committee’s recommendations in toto and that their implementation was underway.

Mehta said advertisements had been issued for several key positions, including technology officers, a chief finance officer and general managers. He also told the Court that the NTA was setting up its own technology team with support from the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and onboarding professional teams.

The Centre further informed the Court that a question bank of around 500 questions was being translated into 13 Indian languages through human intervention. Indigenous AI models were also being explored, though the government said it was not relying solely on AI for translation.

CYBERSECURITY, DATABASES UNDER SCRUTINY

The bench questioned the Centre on the NTA’s preparedness in cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, testing infrastructure and research and development.

Justice Narasimha asked whether the agency had a dedicated officer and department for digital infrastructure and whether a sovereign database and software were being developed for examination-related data.

The security and storage of question papers also came under scrutiny. The Court stressed the need for secure infrastructure and a robust database to protect examination material.

SC SEEKS FRESH AFFIDAVIT

Justice Narasimha also questioned the Centre on the NTA’s physical infrastructure and manpower, asking how many senior officers had been appointed, whether they had taken charge and whether the agency had separate secure premises.

The bench stressed that the NTA must train personnel not merely for one examination but to build long-term institutional capacity, including candidate-friendly arrangements and an effective grievance redressal mechanism.

The Court directed Mehta to file a fresh affidavit detailing the progress made on the Radhakrishnan Committee’s recommendations and the modifications suggested by the newer committee.

The proceedings underscored the Court’s larger concern: the NTA must move beyond temporary fixes and build permanent systems, expertise and security mechanisms capable of preventing examination lapses in the future.

- Ends