NTA strengthens security at new Delhi office after NEET row

Higher Education Secretary Deepti Gaur Mukherjee on Saturday visited the new office of the National Testing Agency (NTA) in central Delhi to review its infrastructure, security arrangements and administrative set-up as the agency prepares to conduct upcoming examinations.

During the visit, Mukherjee interacted with senior NTA officials, inspected operational facilities and reviewed the new administrative structure, the Ministry of Education said in a post on X.

The visit comes as the NTA undertakes a major overhaul following the NEET-UG 2024 examination controversy, which triggered widespread protests and intense scrutiny of the agency’s functioning.

In the aftermath of the controversy, the NTA introduced a series of measures aimed at strengthening examination security, tightening internal processes and restoring confidence in the conduct of high-stakes national examinations.

The agency has also moved away from its earlier exam-centric organisational model towards a functional, vertical structure, with officials and specialists assigned to specific areas of expertise. The NTA recently informed the Supreme Court that the restructuring was intended to improve accountability and strengthen its operational framework.

NTA shifts key operations to secure govt premises

The organisational overhaul has also brought a significant change in the agency’s physical infrastructure.

The NTA has shifted its main office from Okhla in southeast Delhi to 55,524.53 square feet of office space at the Government of India Press Building on Minto Road.

The Ministry of Education told the Supreme Court that confidential operations had been moved to the newly allotted government premises. The move, it said, would place the NTA’s leadership and functional verticals in a secure government facility while allowing its confidential operations division to operate with enhanced security.

The relocation is part of broader measures recommended after the NEET-UG controversy, particularly in areas involving the security of examination material and confidential processes.

The Supreme Court bench hearing the NEET-UG paper leak matter had also indicated that it would visit the new NTA office to inspect the infrastructure and security arrangements.

Security apparatus gets a major upgrade

Security at the new facility is also being strengthened. Officials said a comprehensive security protocol is being prepared for the premises, with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) deploying 39 personnel at the facility.

The agency has also appointed a chief information security officer as it strengthens its digital and information-security systems.

The recruitment process for a general manager (Information Security) is at an advanced stage, with advertisements already issued for the post.

The latest measures underline the scale of the NTA’s effort to rebuild its examination infrastructure and internal systems after a period of intense public and judicial scrutiny.

For an agency responsible for conducting some of India’s biggest entrance examinations, the focus is now firmly on creating a more secure, specialised and accountable system for handling examinations involving millions of students.