The National Testing Agency (NTA) has terminated the services of 47 officials as part of what is being described as a comprehensive overhaul of the examination body, which has remained under scrutiny due to the paper leak controversy.
The move is part of a broader drive to reform the agency’s performance, with more corrective action expected in the coming days.
This comes at a time when the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is protesting at Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak row.
Aside from the dismissals, legal and criminal proceedings are also scheduled to be initiated against some officials.
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On July 22, the Education Ministry informed Rajya Sabha that NTA was working with only 24 permanent employees against the sanctioned strength of 39 posts. The agency also relies on 73 contract employees and 124 external employees to manage its operations.
The agency’s financial resources have grown significantly over the years. Her income increased from $504.16 crore in 2019-20 to $1,116.84 crore in 2023-24, registering a rise of 121.5%. During the same period, its expenses increased from $440.20 crore to $1,040.96 crores, an increase of 136.5%.
The Council of Ministers approves a draft law
The Federal Cabinet on Friday approved a draft law proposing to impose tougher penalties for paper leaks, including a maximum fine of $Official sources said Rs 10 crore. The decision came just hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the government’s plan to introduce tougher provisions.
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The bill, which was approved at a Cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister in the Parliament Complex, seeks to amend the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 by tightening the existing punishment for those involved in leaking papers.
Under the proposed amendments, individuals convicted of leaking papers could face at least five years in prison in addition to a fine. In cases involving organized paper-leakage rackets, the penalty can extend to 10 years in prison, with a maximum fine of $1,000. $10 Crores.
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At present, the law stipulates a prison sentence of three to five years for individuals involved in leaking papers. Those linked to organized fraud or paper leaking networks can currently face a prison sentence of five to 10 years as well as a fine of at least £1,000. $1 Crore.
The proposed changes aim to crack down on organized groups and institutions that engage in unfair practices for financial gain, while ensuring that candidates are not punished under the law.
The current legislation is designed to prevent paper leaks, examination malpractices and organized cheating in recruitment exams such as UPSC and SSC, as well as entrance exams including NEET, JEE and CUET.
