Lok Sabha Question No. 2350 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-15
Subject: Restructuring of National Testing Agency (NTA)
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Chandra Prakash Choudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2350 ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025

## Restructuring of National Testing Agency (NTA)

## 2350.     Shri Chandra Prakash Choudhary:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  the status of the restructuring of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the measures being taken by the Government to ensure that the new technology-based DIGI-EXAM system is robust against past mismanagement and security breaches;
- (b)  the manner in which the Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development (PARAKH) is working to standardize new assessment methods along with the time by which the PARAKH framework is likely to be implemented for classes 3, 5 and 8;
- (c) the reasons for the creation of ten additional posts in the NTA;
- (d)  whether the Government is monitoring the effectiveness of the public statements issued by the  Government to  reduce  students'  dependence  on  coaching  centres,  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- (e) the  manner  in  which  redesigned  board  exams  and  curriculum  are  expected  to  lessen reliance on coaching institutes?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)

(a)to  (e)  The  National  Testing  Agency  (NTA)  was  established  in  2018  as  a  specialized organization to conduct examinations for Admission/Fellowship  in  Higher Education Institutions. Since  its  inception  in  2018,  NTA  has  successfully  conducted  over  250 examinations involving over 5.5 crore candidates.

In order to ensure transparent, smooth and fair conduct of examinations by NTA, the Ministry of  Education  constituted  a  High-Level  Committee  of  Experts  (HLCE)  on  22.06.2024.  The Committee submitted its report on 21.10.2024 on reformation of National Common Entrance Testing  in  India  through  several  measures  including  institutional  linkage  with  States, involvement of Test Indenting Agencies as knowledge and examinations partner, authentication of candidates at different Stages etc.

A High-Powered Steering Committee, chaired by Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, former Chairman, I.S.R.O.  is  already  constituted  to  oversee  the  implementation  of  reforms  in  the  conduct  of national-level examinations by the NTA.

For strengthening of the NTA, 16 new posts have been created in NTA, 8 each at the Director and Joint Director levels to ensure smooth and fair conduct of examinations.

In pursuance of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the National Assessment Centre, PARAKH  (Performance  Assessment,  Review,  and  Analysis  of  Knowledge  for  Holistic Development), was established on 8th February, 2023 by the Ministry of Education under the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).

As part of its mandate to bring about a shift towards continuous formative assessments, the National Assessment Centre - PARAKH has conceptualized and developed Holistic Progress Cards, at each of the four stages of school education envisioned by the NEP, 2020 namely foundational, preparatory, middle and secondary stage (available at https://ncert.nic.in/parakh/hpc.php?ln= ).

The  Holistic  Progress  Card  (HPC),  has  been  issued  with  the  focus  of  shift  from  rote memorisation to competency-based and formative assessment. It captured multi-dimensional progress of learners covering cognitive, socio-emotional and physical development through qualitative and quantitative indicators.

32 States/UTs have adopted/adapted HPCs at the Foundational, Preparatory and Middle Stages of Education.

Ministry of Education in collaboration with IIT Kanpur has started SATHEE (Self-Assessment, Test  and  Help  for  Entrance  Examination)  portal  to  provide  free  of  cost  quality  content  to students who intend to participate in competitive examinations such as JEE, NEET, CUET and other Examinations. More than 17 lakh learners are registered and 400 mentors are available on the platform.

The Ministry of Education has formulated guidelines for regulation of coaching centres and circulated the same to States/UTs on 16.01.2024 for consideration and taking action by way of appropriate legal framework. The guidelines are available at:

https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload\_files/mhrd/files/Guideliens\_Coaching\_Centres\_en .pdf

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