India’s premier testing authority, the National Testing Agency (NTA), managed to conduct only 29 exams in 2024, a record low that hasn’t been seen since 2019. Known for its expansive reach and scale in conducting major admissions and recruitment exams, the NTA now finds itself grappling with a sharp decline in performance, fuelled by a turbulent year of paper leaks, exam postponements, and administrative setbacks.
This dramatic drop was laid bare in parliament when the Ministry of Education revealed that the number of exams conducted this year fell by more than half compared to 2023, when 66 exams were held. The number of registered students also saw a significant dip, falling from 1.33 crore in 2023 to 85.78 lakh in 2024.
NTA’s exam conducting trajectory: Five-year overview
The NTA, established in 2017, has steadily expanded its reach over the years, managing major entrance examinations like NEET for medical courses, JEE Main for engineering aspirants, and the CUET for undergraduate admissions.
After conducting 23 exams in 2019, the NTA quickly ramped up its operations, conducting 35 exams in 2020, 45 in 2021, and 44 in 2022. The peak came in 2023 when it organised 66 exams attended by 1.33 crore students. However, 2024 saw a dramatic reversal of this trend, with only 29 exams held and 85.78 lakh students registering—numbers more reflective of the NTA’s early years than its recent progress. Here’s an overview of the the number of exams held by NTA in the last five years:
Modes of NTA exams: Technology and exam formats
The data provided by the education ministry also sheds light on how the NTA conducted exams in 2024. Out of the 29 exams, only 12 were computer-based tests (CBTs), reflecting a noticeable reliance on traditional formats.
The remaining exams included four hybrid (CBT plus pen-and-paper) tests, three exclusively pen-and-paper exams, seven exams with a mix of written and interview-based assessments, two English shorthand tests, and one remote-proctored test. The CUET UG, one of NTA’s most significant exams, was held in both CBT and pen-and-paper modes. However, looking forward, the UGC has confirmed that CUET UG will transition exclusively to the CBT format in 2025, as part of broader examination reforms.
NTA in troubled waters: Exam postponements and allegations of paper leaks derail operations
The drastic decline in exams conducted in 2024 coincided with controversies surrounding the NTA’s management. Major exams such as the Common University Entrance Test for Postgraduate (CUET PG) courses and the University Grants Commission’s National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) were postponed or annulled amid allegations of paper leaks and technical issues. These lapses triggered widespread criticism and led to investigations into the agency’s functioning.
In response, the former NTA Director General, Subodh Kumar Singh, was put on compulsory wait, and Pradeep Singh Kharola was appointed as the new Director General to oversee the agency’s recovery.
Beyond administrative concerns, delays in payments to school staff serving as exam functionaries added to the NTA’s troubles, further highlighting inefficiencies in its operations. Earlier in the year, during a parliamentary session, the Ministry of Education admitted that since its inception in 2018, the NTA had postponed exams 15 times.
While the majority of postponements occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, recent disruptions stemmed from administrative failures, technical glitches, and mismanagement.