Now Reading: SBI Research proposes new NTA law, independent board
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SBI Research proposes new NTA law, independent board
The Story in Brief
SBI Research has recommended a separate law for the National Testing Agency (NTA), an independent governing board, and a permanent professional team, according to a report released on 30 September. The proposals aim to give the NTA a clearer legal mandate and reduce its reliance on outsourced services. The recommendations come after the alleged paper leak of NEET UG 2026, Times Now reports.
The report proposes an NTA Board of independent experts from fields such as assessment, technology, and examination security. India Today adds that the report also suggests examining whether Article 21 of the Constitution could be amended to recognise a right to free and fair educational opportunity. An independent Standards and Appeals Body would audit high-risk examination processes and handle final administrative appeals.
The NTA, established in 2018, has conducted over 240 examinations for more than 5.4 crore candidates by July 2024. The report also flags that higher education's share of total government expenditure has fallen to around 1 per cent from 1.6 per cent in FY18, and proposes increasing it to 1.5 per cent.
Update, 2 October 2026: The Indian Express, on 30 September, adds that 88 per cent of NTA's disclosed personnel were contractual or outsourced as of July 2024, and that the Director General holds multiple governance roles. It also reports that the proposed Candidate Charter would define procedures for answer-key challenges, score corrections, and re-tests.
Indian Opinion Analysis
All three outlets report the same SBI Research proposals for the NTA: a separate law, an independent board, a permanent professional team, and a Standards and Appeals Body. The Indian Express leads with structural criticism, noting that 88 per cent of NTA personnel are contractual or outsourced and that the Director General holds multiple roles. India Today adds the Article 21 proposal and funding data, while Times Now stays closest to the report's own sequence. The coverage is uniform: every outlet treats the report as a credible reform blueprint and reports its core recommendations without scepticism or advocacy. The concrete watch item is whether the government drafts the NTA Act the report proposes.
Coverage: 3 sources, 3 neutral
Sources (3): timesnownews.com (neutral report), indiatoday.in (neutral report), indianexpress.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
