New Delhi: Big changes are on the offing in the national competitive exam landscape. Career aspirants are closing watching the developments as the National Testing Agency (NTA) will now be responsible for conducting various National Level Entrance Examinations in the coming days. Hence, the educational boards or regulators such as CBSE, AICTE, etc will be relieved from their current responsibilities of conducting national level entrance exams such as JEE Main, UGC National Eligibility Test (NET), NEET UG, CTET, etc.
As the Union Cabinet approved on 10 November 2017 for creation of National Testing Agency (NTA) to conduct entrance examinations for higher educational institutions, NTA will benefit about 40 lakh students appearing in various entrance examinations.
Impact on Competitive Exams: Once NTA commences operations, it would initially conduct those entrance examinations which are currently being conducted by the CBSE. Other examinations will be taken up gradually after NTA is fully geared up.
The entrance examinations will be conducted in online mode at least twice a year, thereby giving adequate opportunity to candidates to bring out their best. In order to serve the requirements of the rural students, it would locate the centres at sub-district/district level and as far as possible would undertake hands-on training to the students.
Currently, the CBSE conducts the following competitive entrance tests: UGC-National Eligibility Test (NET), Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main, National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (UG), Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET), and others.
NTA will bring in high reliability, standardized difficulty level for assessing the aptitude, intelligence and problem solving abilities of the students.
Constitution & Finances: NTA will be chaired by an eminent educationist appointed by MHRD. The CEO will be the Director General to be appointed by the Government. There will be a Board of Governors comprising members from user institutions. The Director General will be assisted by 9 verticals headed by academicians/ experts.
NTA will be given a one-time grant of Rs.25 crore from the Government of India to start its operation in the first year. Thereafter, it will be financially self-sustainable.
The National Testing Agency will act as a Society registered under the Indian Societies Registration Act, 1860.
