NTA removes 50 staff, advertises 10 leadership roles after exam errors

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has removed more than 50 staff members and is hiring professionals for 10 senior positions, including chief technology officer and chief finance officer, as part of an exam system overhaul. Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi chaired a meeting on Monday, August 17, 2026, where he was apprised of the steps, a day after the NTA ordered a retest for three UGC-NET papers due to errors.

The Hindu reports that domain specialists from the private sector are being brought in for cybersecurity, psychometrics, and question-paper design. The minister directed a complete overhaul of confidential operations, including secluded rooms and air-gapped systems, and asked the NTA to conduct a thorough audit of all exam processes and submit a corrective action report.

This is the second major NTA failure this year after the NEET-UG exam was cancelled over a paper leak, leading to the resignation of the then education minister. Hindustan Times notes the retest for English and Commerce will be held on September 9, and for Sociology on September 10.