NTA gets cabinet approval, to conduct all entrance exams
In what is likely to benefit nearly 40 lakh students while relieving CBSE, AICTE and other agencies from the responsibility of conducting various entrance exams, the union cabinet has approved creation of National Testing Agency (NTA).
NTA as a society registered under the Indian Societies Registration Act, 1860, will be an autonomous and self-sustained premier testing organisation to conduct entrance examinations for higher educational institutions. The agency is likely to bring in high reliability, standardised difficulty level for assessing the aptitude, intelligence and problem solving abilities of the students.
Features:
- The NTA would initially conduct those entrance examinations which are currently being conducted by the CBSE.
- Other examinations will be taken up gradually after NTA is fully geared up.
- The entrance examinations will be conducted in online mode at least twice a year, thereby giving adequate opportunity to candidates to bring out their best.
- In order to serve the requirements of the rural students, it would locate the centres at sub-district/district level and as far as possible would undertake hands-on training to the students.
Constitution:
- NTA will be chaired by an eminent educationist appointed by HRD ministry.
- The CEO will be the director general to be appointed by the government.
- There will be a board of governors comprising members from user institutions.
- The director general will be assisted by nine verticals headed by academicians/ experts.
Finances:
NTA will be given a one-time grant of Rs 25 crore from the government of India to start its operation in the first year. Thereafter, it will be financially self-sustainable.
Background:
In view of the need to have a specialised body in India like the most advanced countries, the finance minister in the budget speech of 2017-18 had announced setting up of a NTA as an autonomous and self-sustained premier testing organisation to conduct all entrance examinations for higher educational institutions.
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