NTA Sacks 47 Officials Amid NEET-UG Paper Leak Fallout

Testing agency dismisses 47 employees in sweeping crackdown following NEET-UG 2026 leak scandal, as nationwide protests demand the education minister’s resignation over exam integrity failures.

New Delhi, July 25

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has terminated the services of 47 officials in a single sweeping action, as the fallout from the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak scandal continues to widen. The move comes even as protests erupt across the country demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the controversy.

Officials said the mass dismissal is aimed at bringing about significant reforms in the examination process. Several of those removed are expected to face legal and criminal proceedings, with sources indicating that action against additional staff members could follow in the coming days.

The sacking follows a broader administrative reshuffle within the education ministry. Late Thursday night, the central government replaced Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi with Naresh Kumar Gangwar, a decision that preceded Friday’s crackdown by just a day. The government’s swift and firm decisions are seen as a signal that the administration is treating exam-system transparency with utmost seriousness.

The Centre has reportedly begun preparing for a large-scale overhaul of the NTA, with Friday’s action forming part of that process. A complete restructuring of the agency is expected within the next month, including changes to its outsourcing norms and procedures. The overhaul, based on recommendations from a high-level expert committee, aims to build a “leak-proof” examination system going forward.

Data presented in Parliament revealed the extent of staffing gaps at the agency: of 39 sanctioned permanent posts at the NTA, only 24 are currently filled, leaving 15 vacant. To keep operations running, the agency currently relies on 73 contractual staff and 124 outsourced personnel, including consultants, software developers and “young professionals.”

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar informed the Rajya Sabha that the government has created 16 new director and joint-director level posts to strengthen the NTA, which will be filled soon.

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