NTA terminates 47 officials in NEET leak overhaul

The National Testing Agency (NTA) terminated 47 officials on Friday, July 24, 2026, as part of a major internal overhaul following the NEET-UG paper leak controversy. Government sources confirmed that legal and criminal proceedings will be initiated against some of those dismissed. The action marks a significant step in a broader restructuring of the agency responsible for conducting major national entrance examinations.

The terminations come amid sustained public protests over exam integrity, including a 26-day hunger strike by activist Sonam Wangchuk that ended on Thursday, July 23. Demonstrations have continued at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar, with opposition parties demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and a parliamentary discussion on the issue. The controversy stems from a paper leak that forced the cancellation of the NEET-UG examination originally held on May 3, 2026, affecting over 22 lakh candidates. A retest was administered on June 21.

Concurrent with the personnel actions, the NTA has launched a recruitment drive to rebuild its specialist leadership. The agency is appointing four General Managers on three-year contracts to head key...