NTA takes AICTE help to map facilities for setting up testing centres

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has sought the help of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to map IT infrastructure and vacant spaces in government institutions to establish standard testing centres (STCs). These centres will facilitate computer-based testing (CBT) for NTA examinations, including the high-stakes National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).The NTA plans to shift NEET to CBT mode next year. Nearly 22 lakh students appeared for the NEET-UG 2026, which was held in a pen-and-paper format. The examination became embroiled in a paper leak controversy and had to be re-conducted, leading to widespread protests and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.Infrastructure auditFollowing the NTA’s request, the AICTE wrote to Vice-Chancellors of government-run technical universities and heads of AICTE-approved government institutes on August 31 to assess their infrastructure.The AICTE has directed all approved government engineering colleges, polytechnics, university departments, and technical as well as management institutes to submit comprehensive data regarding their facilities by September 15.The move follows an NTA directive issued on August 5 to address the progressive migration of national-level examinations to online and CBT modes. “By establishing STCs in government institutions, the NTA seeks to create a wider, highly secure, and geographically distributed network of testing hubs,” the NTA officials said.The AICTE has emphasised that this data collection is strictly restricted to government-owned and approved institutes. The institutes must complete a questionnaire detailing every aspect of their current technical ecosystem.Given the scale of national examinations, the AICTE has urged all institutional heads to treat this matter as highly critical.Connectivity specificationsThe AICTE circular states that the institutions must declare the total number of computer labs, their combined computing node capacity and the specifications of those nodes.The audit must include the exact number of functional nodes available as on date, processor specifications (e.g., Intel i3 or i5) and installed operating systems with versions. Also, physical security measures, including whether nodes are equipped with partitions and privacy screens, are sought. AICTE has also requested information on the feasibility of adding more nodes within existing laboratory footprints.To ensure seamless exam delivery without technical glitches, the NTA and AICTE are assessing local and external networks for internet connectivity.AICTE has sought details on the status of the Local Area Network (LAN), types of cabling used (Cat 5e, Cat 6, Cat 6A, or Fibre), the number and types of network switches (make and port capacity) as well as the availability of a dedicated server room or rack space, including total area and server configurations. It has also asked for details on the primary internet service provider, connection type (broadband, leased line, or fibre), speed in Mbps, and whether the line is dedicated or shared. The presence of a redundant or secondary backup internet link is also mandatory.Power failures during high-stakes exams lead to the risk of re-conducting exams. Hence, AICTE has stated that institutes must detail their electrical backup capabilities. Furthermore, details on surveillance systems are sought, requiring information on existing CCTV coverage across all labs and connecting corridors.NTA and AICTE are also mapping out the physical blueprint of colleges to handle candidate traffic seamlessly. The assessment includes whether the institutes have dedicated spaces for candidate registration, biometric verification, and frisking. They are also checking whether separate entry and exit routes exist to manage crowds effectively. AICTE has also asked if the institutes have secured areas like a strongroom or a dedicated control room. Also, availability of boundary walls, overall security arrangements, ground-floor labs, ramps, and accessible toilets for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) is being assessed.Support staffAICTE has asked institutes to specify in the audit their total strength of IT or computer faculty and dedicated lab staff. They must also disclose details of active Annual Maintenance Contracts (AMCs) or on-call technical support. Crucially, colleges must state their availability on weekends, gazetted holidays, and during semester breaks, alongside any historical constraints faced while previously hosting CBT exams.Beyond current infrastructure, AICTE is aggressively scanning for future development opportunities on these campuses. Institutes must report their total built-up campus area and estimate vacant, unutilised space (especially on ground floors) that can be converted into new labs. They are also required to evaluate existing electrical and networking frameworks in these vacant areas to estimate how many additional nodes could be accommodated if developed into fully functioning STCs.