NTA overhaul: Permanent observer pool, shortlisted centres to prevent paper leaks

The NTA has invited applications for a permanent observer pool and empanelled examination centres. The move seeks to strengthen test security following the NEET-UG paper leak.To stop paper leaks, NTA to empanel observers and exam centres in advanceNew Delhi,Nov 12, 2026 16:05 ISTThe National Testing Agency (NTA) is creating a permanent pool of independent observers as part of a wider overhaul of the examination system following security breaches and allegations of irregularities, news agency Press Trust of India reported.The agency is also inviting eligible institutions and organisations with suitable infrastructure to apply for shortlisting as examination centres. The steps follow the leak of the NEET UG medical entrance examination question paper earlier this year.2 SEPARATE EXPRESSIONS OF INTERESTSThe NTA issued two separate Expressions of Interest earlier this week, seeking applications from eligible individuals and institutions. It conducts several national-level entrance and eligibility examinations, including NEET-UG, JEE-Main, UGC-NET, CSIR-NET and CUET for undergraduate and postgraduate admissions, at thousands of centres in India and abroad.According to the document cited by PTI, the NTA deploys an independent observer at every test centre on the day of an examination. “The Observer is NTA's own representative at the centre, distinct from and in addition to the City Coordinator and Centre Superintendent, and is entrusted with monitoring the fairness, security and smooth conduct of the examination and reporting directly to NTA,” it said. “To meet this requirement in a timely and reliable manner across an annual examination cycle, NTA proposes to build and maintain a standing, pre-verified pool of empanelled Observers, drawn from retired and serving academic and administrative staff of government institutions, from which exam-wise deployment orders can be issued well in advance of each examination,” the document added.Applications for observers have been invited in three categories: retired Central and state government officers; retired armed forces or paramilitary personnel; and retired or serving teachers and professors from government schools, colleges and universities. For test centres outside India, the NTA will ordinarily empanel observers from among Indian nationals living in the same city. These may include serving and retired officials of Indian missions, retired Ministry of External Affairs officers and other eligible Indian nationals available locally.For empanelment as examination centres, applications have been invited from institutions and organisations that own, operate or have legally enforceable rights to use suitable facilities.Institutions seeking empanelment as computer-based test centres must have 285 fully functional computer workstations, including buffer systems, for each shift. Pen-and-paper test centres must have at least 250 seats, including buffer capacity, per shift. The centres should be able to conduct examinations lasting three hours in a single shift.“Centres with less than 285 workstations may apply but will be considered only in locations with limited supply,” the document said. Computer-based test centres must have at least four separate computer laboratories or halls with 30 workstations each. Pen-and-paper test centres require at least six separate examination halls that can seat 40 candidates each, or an equivalent arrangement.The overhaul follows the NEET UG question paper leak, which triggered student protests across the country and led to the resignation of then Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. A day after his resignation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a high-powered task force headed by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani to recommend reforms aimed at preventing examination paper leaks. The panel is yet to submit its report.The NTA's latest measures are aimed at building a pre-verified pool of observers and examination centres for the national-level tests it conducts in India and abroad.- Ends