NATIONAL TESTING AGENCY (NTA) (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Education)

Context: The Supreme Court instructed the central government and the National Testing Agency (NTA) to ensure that anyone involved in the alleged paper leak of this year's National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) faces strict consequences.

National Testing Agency (NTA)

• About: The NTA is an independent, autonomous, and self-sustained premier testing organization established under the Societies Registration Act (1860).
• Nodal Agency: Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India (GOI).
• Formation: 2017.
• Headquarters: New Delhi.
• Composition: Chairperson, a secretary and 8 or more officials representing different national level institutes.
• Objective: To conduct efficient, transparent, and international standard tests to assess the competency of candidates for admissions to premier higher education institutions.
• Mission: To improve equity and quality in education by administering research-based valid, reliable, efficient, transparent, fair, and international-level assessments.
• Functions:

oIdentify partner institutions with adequate infrastructure to facilitate online examinations without disrupting their academic routines.

oCreate a question bank for all subjects using modern techniques.

oEstablish a robust R&D culture and a pool of experts in various aspects of testing.

oAssist colleges and universities in testing, providing training and advisory services, and offer quality testing services to academic institutions in India.