of India Premier The testing authority, the National Testing Agency (NTA), managed to conduct only 29 exams in 2024, a record low not seen since 2019. Known for its wide reach and scale in conducting major admissions and recruitment exams, the NTA now finds itself in a sharp decline in performance, fueled by a tumultuous year of paper leaks, exams. Adjournment, and administrative interruptions.
This dramatic decline has come after the Ministry of Education disclosed that the number of examinations this year has halved compared to 2023 with 66 examinations being held this year. The number of registered students has also declined significantly, from 1.33 million in 2023 to 85.78 million in 2024.
NTA’s Examination Conduct Path: A Five-Year Overview
Founded in 2017, NTA has steadily expanded its reach over the years, administering major entrance exams like NEET for medical courses, JEE Main for engineering aspirants, and CUET for graduate admissions.
After conducting 23 examinations in 2019, the NTA soon increased its operations, conducting 35 examinations in 2020, 45 in 2021, and 44 examinations in 2022. The peak came in 2023 when it organized 66 exams with the participation of 1.33 crore students. However, 2024 saw a dramatic reversal of this trend, with only 29 exams and 85.78 lakh students registered – numbers reflecting the early years of the NTA’s recent progress. Here is an overview of the number of examinations conducted by NTA in the last five years:
Modes of NTA Exam: Techniques and Exam Patterns
The data provided by the Ministry of Education also sheds light on how the NTA conducted the examination in 2024. Only 12 of the 29 examinations were computer-based tests (CBTs), reflecting a significant reliance on traditional formats.
The remaining tests included four hybrid (CBT plus pen-and-paper) tests, three exclusively pen-and-paper tests, seven tests with a mix of written and interview-based assessments, two English shorthand tests, and one remote-proctor test. . CUET UG, one of the most important examinations of NTA, was conducted in CBT and pen-and-paper modes. However, looking ahead, the UGC has confirmed that CUET UG will switch to CBT format only in 2025, as part of comprehensive examination reforms.
NTA in trouble: Exam postponement and conduct on allegations of paper leakage
The major drop in exams held in 2024 coincided with controversy surrounding the management of the NTA. Key exams like the Common University Entrance Test for Postgraduate (CUET PG) courses and the University Grants Commission’s National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) were postponed or canceled amid allegations of paper leaks and technical issues. These mistakes triggered widespread criticism and led to an investigation into the agency’s practices.
In response, the former NTA Director General, Subodh Kumar Singh, was placed on mandatory standby and Pradeep Singh Kharola was appointed as the new Director General to oversee the agency’s recovery.
Beyond administrative concerns, delays in payment of school staff serving as examination workers added to the NTA’s woes, further highlighting inefficiencies in its operations. Earlier in the year, during a session of Parliament, the Ministry of Education admitted that the NTA had postponed examinations 15 times since its inception in 2018.
While most of the suspensions occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic, recent disruptions have resulted from administrative failures, technical errors and mismanagement.