NEET Row: Ex-ISRO Chief Heads Panel To Reform NTA; Know Other Members

New Delhi: Former ISRO chief Dr K Radhakrishnan will head a high-level committee of experts to ensure transparent, smooth and fair conduct of exams by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

The seven-member panel, constituted by Union Education ministry, will make recommendations on reforms in the mechanism of examination process, improvement in data security protocols and the structure and functioning of the NTA, the Department of Higher Education said on Saturday.

Dr Radhakrishnan apart, other members of the committee are — former AIIMS Delhi Director Dr Randeep Guleria, Vice-Chancellor of Central University of Hyderabad Prof. B J Rao, Professor Emeritus at Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras Prof. Ramamurthy K, Co-Founder of People Strong and Board Member of Karmayogi Bharat Pankaj Bansal, Dean of Student Affairs at IIT Delhi Prof. Aditya Mittal and Joint Secretary at Ministry of Education Govind Jaiswal, who will serve as the Member Secretary.

The government’s move comes after multiple allegations of irregularities in NEET-UG exam and cancellation of UGC-NET as its question paper was leaked on darknet.

Tasked with reforming the examination process, the committee will analyse the existing system and suggest measures to improve efficiency and prevent possible breaches.

The panel will also review the organisational structure and functioning of the NTA, like its standard operating procedures (SOPs) and protocols, and recommend measures to strengthen these as well as ensure compliance at every level through a robust monitoring mechanism.

The committee has been asked to submit a report within two months.