# NTA removes 600 experts, four-tier paper check after exam lapses 2026-08-19T10:43:16+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 13 independent outlets (21 source reports) The National Testing Agency (NTA) has removed 600 subject experts and is onboarding new specialists as part of a major overhaul of its examination system, the Education Ministry said on Tuesday. The agency will also introduce a four-tier question paper checking system and shift its offices to new premises with Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) security. The changes follow a series of exam lapses, including errors in three UGC-NET papers that led to re-tests and the NEET-UG paper leak that prompted nationwide protests and the resignation of former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi held review meetings on Monday and Tuesday with NTA Director General Abhishek Singh. The ministry said 20 to 25 officials will be inducted over the next two to three weeks. Ten new leadership positions have been advertised, including Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Security Officer. Joshi has ordered a complete audit of all examination processes, with a corrective action report due within 30 days. The NTA has also floated a Rs 7.5 crore tender for round-the-clock security services. Separately, the Centre told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that the NEET examination system is "foolproof and difficult to breach," citing GPS-tracked vehicles and multi-moderator question banks. The Supreme Court directed the Centre to file an affidavit within three weeks detailing steps taken to implement recommendations of the Radhakrishnan Committee on institutionalising NTA reforms, noting that "a vibrant system and institutionalisation is what needs to be done." ## Indian Opinion Analysis Pro-government sources, including the Education Ministry statements echoed by Indian Today and Hindustan Times, framed the 600-expert removal and four-tier checks as decisive government action to fix accountability. Critical-leaning outlets like The Tribune highlighted the CBI chargesheet against 13 NTA experts, implying the overhaul was reactive, not proactive. The Times of India noted that 47 of the 50 staff removals dated to July's NEET case, not the new action. Both sides agree on the reforms' scope, but the measured read is that the government is responding to serial failures, and the real test is implementation: the Radhakrishnan Committee's 101 recommendations have been pending since October 2024. The next watchpoint is the 30-day audit report and the Supreme Court's three-week affidavit timeline. ## Coverage Coverage: 21 sources, 1 government-critical, 19 neutral, 1 sensationalist - english.ratopati.com (neutral report) Straight reporting of ministry reforms without editorial slant. - tribuneindia.com (government critical) Leads with CBI chargesheet against experts, implying systemic failure. - indiatoday.in (neutral report) Factual listing of reforms and background on exam lapses. - indiatvnews.com (neutral report) Brief factual summary, no opinion. - newindianexpress.com (neutral report) Straight news wire style, lists reforms. - dnaindia.com (neutral report) Access error, not evaluated. - ndtv.com (neutral report) Short factual update, no framing. - hindustantimes.com (neutral report) Detailed but factual, includes tender cost for context. - timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) Focuses on process changes, no judgement. - indiatoday.in (2) (sensationalist) Leads with protests and opposition attacks, drama-first. - outlookindia.com (neutral report) SC hearing reported factually with government claims. - hindustantimes.com (2) (neutral report) Detailed process description, neutral tone. - tribuneindia.com (2) (neutral report) Straight reporting on staff removals and audit order. - timesofindia.indiatimes.com (2) (neutral report) Factual report of Centre's SC submissions. - livemint.com (neutral report) Focuses on SC's institutionalisation push, neutral. - news.abplive.com (neutral report) Straight news report on SC hearing. - indiatvnews.com (2) (neutral report) Brief factual update on Centre's SC statement. - newindianexpress.com (2) (neutral report) Detailed SC hearing report, neutral. - timesnownews.com (neutral report) Focuses on SC remarks, neutral. - hindustantimes.com (3) (neutral report) Lists reforms factually, no commentary. - hindustantimes.com (4) (neutral report) Automated agency feed, straight reporting. This story was synthesised by AI from the 21 sources linked above. Updated: this story now draws on 21 sources. Last updated 2026-08-19T11:16:44+00:00. Tags: NEET, NTA, Pralhad Joshi, Radhakrishnan Committee, Supreme Court of India, UGC NET Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/nta-removes-600-experts-adds-four-tier-paper-checks-after-leak/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/nta-removes-600-experts-adds-four-tier-paper-checks-after-leak/#story-in-brief How this brief was made: an AI model read the reports linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. Stance labels are editorial classifications of how each outlet framed this story, assigned by the same model, not ratings of the outlets. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/