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NATIONAL TESTING AGENCY (NTA)

15th June, 2024 Polity

NATIONAL TESTING AGENCY (NTA)

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Picture Courtesy: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/no-stay-sc-seeks-nta-response-on-paper-leak-charges/articleshow/110919513.cms

Context: The Supreme Court of India declined to halt the counselling process for admissions to medical colleges despite allegations of paper leaks and irregularities in the NEET-UG 2024 examination.

Key points from the Supreme Court's decision

  • Decision on Counselling Process: The Supreme Court refused to grant a stay on the counselling process for medical college admissions. This decision comes amidst ongoing petitions seeking the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2024 examination and an investigation into alleged paper leaks.
  • Notice Issued: The bench issued a notice on one of the petitions that specifically requested the cancellation of the May 2024 NEET-UG examination due to alleged paper leaks. The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts NEET, has been directed to respond to these allegations.

National Testing Agency (NTA)

  • It is an autonomous agency within the Ministry of Education that was established in November 2017.
  • Its main purpose is to conduct entrance examinations for admissions and recruitment in higher educational institutions.
  • The agency is responsible for organising national-level exams in various fields such as engineering, medicine, management, and pharmacy.
  • The NTA conducts various exams, including the Joint Entrance Examination-Main (JEE Main) and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG), twice a year.
    • It also holds the National Eligibility Test (NET), the Common Management Admission Test (CMAT), and the Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT).
  • The NTA is governed by a body consisting of a chairperson, a secretary, and officials from national-level institutes.

Source:

Economictimes

Wikipedia

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