The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts India’s biggest entrance examinations, is back in the spotlight. This time, however, the focus is not on exam-related controversies but on its staffing. The Central Government informed the Rajya Sabha that the agency currently has only 24 permanent employees, while a large share of its work is carried out by contract and outsourced staff. The NTA is responsible for conducting major national examinations such as NEET-UG, JEE Main, and UGC-NET.
Established in 2018, the NTA has conducted more than 270 national-level examinations, with over 66 million candidates registering for them. Given the scale of its operations, the agency’s limited permanent workforce has become a matter of discussion in Parliament.
Only 24 Permanent Employees Currently in Service
According to the Ministry of Education, the NTA has 39 sanctioned permanent posts, which are filled through deputation. However, as per the ministry’s post-wise data presented in the Rajya Sabha, only 24 of these positions are currently occupied, leaving several key posts vacant.
Heavy Dependence on Contract and Outsourced Staff
In addition to its permanent workforce, the NTA relies heavily on contractual and outsourced personnel. The government stated that 73 employees are currently engaged on contract, including 44 consultants, 17 young professionals, five senior consultants, three advisors, and one senior software developer.
The agency also employs 124 outsourced workers, including data analysts, legal associates, consultants, and housekeeping staff. This means a significant portion of the NTA’s day-to-day operations is supported by non-permanent employees.
Government Creates 16 New Senior-Level Posts
To strengthen the agency’s functioning, the Ministry of Education announced the creation of 16 new senior positions. These include eight Director posts and eight Joint Director posts, which the government says will improve the NTA’s administrative and operational efficiency.
The issue has reignited the political debate over NEET. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin once again called for the exam to be scrapped, arguing that it is vulnerable to large-scale irregularities. Meanwhile, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor C. Joseph Vijay urged the Centre to respect students’ concerns and demanded that education be restored to the State List. He also criticised the detention of opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, in Delhi, describing the action as undemocratic.
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