NEW DELHI, Aug 19: The Ministry of Education has initiated a major overhaul of the National Testing Agency’s examination system following recent concerns over the quality and conduct of major competitive examinations.
The move comes after the cancellation of the UGC-NET June 2026 papers in English, Commerce and Sociology. The National Testing Agency has scheduled fresh examinations for the affected subjects on September 9 and 10.
Under the proposed changes, the process of preparing and checking question papers will undergo tighter scrutiny. A four tier verification mechanism is being introduced to reduce errors and strengthen the reliability of examination material. Reports also indicate that a large pool of existing experts associated with the agency’s examination process will be replaced as part of the restructuring.
The government is also reviewing confidential procedures related to question-paper preparation and handling. Additional security measures are being planned at NTA offices to protect sensitive examination material and minimise the possibility of breaches.
The overhaul is aimed at addressing concerns raised by students and the academic community regarding errors, transparency and examination management. The UGC-NET controversy had affected candidates who had invested months preparing for the eligibility and fellowship examination.
The NTA has clarified through its official portal that the provisional answer-key challenge process for 84 UGC-NET subjects is separate from the re-conduct of the three affected papers.
The latest measures are expected to place greater emphasis on multiple-stage checks before question papers reach examination centres. The government is also seeking to strengthen institutional accountability so that errors are identified before an examination is conducted.
The reforms come at a crucial time for India’s national testing framework, with the NTA responsible for several major entrance and eligibility examinations, including JEE Main, NEET-UG, CUET and UGC-NET.
For students, the immediate priority remains the successful conduct of the UGC-NET re-examination in September. The wider restructuring is expected to determine how the agency handles future examinations and restores confidence among candidates.