NTA Launches Overhaul with Senior-Level Recruitment Amid Paper Leak Protests
Following a series of high-profile exam paper leaks that triggered widespread student protests, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has initiated a major restructuring drive. On Friday, July 25, 2026, the autonomous body advertised for senior-level leadership vacancies and opened recruitment for young professionals via the UPSC Pratibha Setu portal. The move aligns with recommendations from the Professor K. Radhakrishnan-led High-Level Committee of Experts, which called for a comprehensive overhaul of the agency's academic, operational, cyber security, and investigative capabilities.
The NTA has been under severe scrutiny after the NEET paper leak, leading to protests across the country. Sources within the agency confirmed that 47 officials have been terminated from services, with some facing potential legal and criminal action. The recruitment drive is seen as a first step in rebuilding public trust and strengthening the agency's internal mechanisms.
The agency is hiring for four General Manager positions on a three-year contract basis. These roles require expertise in assessment research, development, and psychometrics. Responsibilities include building item banks, refining normalisation methodologies, managing equating procedures, and spearheading pilots for Computer-Adaptive Testing and AI-assisted assessments. Additionally, the NTA seeks officials to focus on empanelment standards, capacity planning, exam-day logistics, accessibility for candidates with benchmark disabilities, and multi-agency coordination with State and district authorities.
A key area of focus is the cyber-security ecosystem. The NTA aims to recruit senior officials to oversee internal vigilance, digital forensics, and anti-malpractice operations, protecting NTA systems, networks, applications, and candidate data.
Simultaneously, the NTA is leveraging the Union Public Service Commission’s Pratibha Setu portal to recruit 16 young professionals. An official from the Ministry of Education said, “The portal bridges high-performing Civil Services Examination candidates with specialised administrative roles.” A separate Expression of Interest has been floated for fresh empanelment of subject matter experts and translators.
“This hiring drive is the first stage of a broader restructuring process. Further recruitments across the 10 functional verticals recommended by the High-Level Committee are expected to roll out in the coming weeks,” the official added. The restructuring aims to address systemic issues that led to the leaks and restore confidence in the examination process.
