NEW DELHI: The Union government has appointed Sandip Kumar Mishra as the new director of the National Testing Agency (NTA), marking a significant leadership change amid the agency’s ongoing restructuring. The appointment comes in the wake of a high-level committee’s recommendations to address issues of accountability and improve the agency’s functioning.
Mishra, a 2007-batch IRS officer, replaces Pradeep Singh Kharola, who had taken over in June following controversies surrounding exam irregularities. A notification issued by the Centre confirmed that Mishra will serve as the NTA director for five years or until further orders. Prior to this role, Mishra served as Joint Commissioner of Income Tax and was recommended for central deputation by the Department of Revenue.
The restructuring of NTA was prompted by allegations of malpractices in key exams such as the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) and the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET), conducted earlier this year. The matter had escalated to the Supreme Court, leading to the formation of a seven-member panel headed by former ISRO chairman Dr. K Radhakrishnan. The panel submitted its recommendations to the government in October.
As per the recommendations, the NTA will focus exclusively on conducting entrance exams for higher education institutions starting 2025, moving away from recruitment-related tests. The agency, established in 2017, currently conducts major examinations, including the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main, NEET-UG, and the Common University Entrance Test (CUET).
In addition to Mishra’s appointment, Archana Shukla, Amit Kumar, and Shivani have been named joint directors of NTA for a four-year term. These changes are part of the government’s efforts to streamline the agency’s operations and restore credibility in its examination processes.
Mishra’s immediate task will be to implement the committee’s recommendations and ensure that the NTA operates transparently and efficiently.
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