IAS/UPSC Coaching Institute  

30 Jul 2026 : Unaddressed challenges

Article 1: ​Unaddressed challenges

Why in news: Following nationwide protests over examination irregularities, the government has constituted a task force to reform the National Testing Agency (NTA) and implement the K. Radhakrishnan Committee's recommendations before NEET 2027.

Key Details

  • Task force aims to implement stalled NTA reforms, including a statutory UPSC-like structure and secure digital examination systems.
  • Implementation challenges include slow recruitment, uncompetitive salaries, legislative delays, and the ambitious NEET 2027 timeline.
  • Limited academic representation raises concerns that reforms focus on technology rather than improving assessment philosophy.
  • NEET paper-setting lacks institutional ownership, unlike JEE Advanced, increasing dependence on question banks and coaching centres.
  • The reforms treat examination failures as technical issues, overlooking the need for autonomous, high-quality academic institutions.

Government’s Crisis-Management Approach

  • Political leadership often responds to mass protests through new laws, fast-track courts, inquiry committees, and task forces rather than addressing root causes.
  • The Cockroach Janta Party agitation followed the same pattern:
    • Immediate demands accepted.
    • New legislation announced.
    • Judicial inquiry promised.
    • Task force constituted.
  • This reflects short-term crisis management instead of systemic reform.

NTA Reforms and Implementation Challenges

  • The task force is expected to implement the K. Radhakrishnan Committee (October 2024) recommendations.
  • Proposed reforms include:
    • Establishing a statutory, UPSC-like NTA led by a Director General and two Additional Directors General.
    • Creating 10 specialised divisions covering cybersecurity, psychometrics, and forensics.
    • Setting up 1,000 standardised testing centres.
    • Introducing a Digi-Exam biometric framework using Aadhaar, facial recognition, and continuous surveillance.
  • Key implementation hurdles:
    • 6–12 month recruitment cycles.
    • Government pay scales unable to match the private sector.
    • Legislative approval required for new cadres.
    • Achieving these reforms before NEET 2027 remains difficult.

Limited Academic Perspective in Examination Reforms

  • The Radhakrishnan Committee proposed:
    • Continuous, computer-adaptive testing instead of high-stakes single exams.
    • Greater involvement of academic bodies such as the National Medical Commission (NMC) and IITs.
  • However, the task force is dominated by experts from:
    • Technology.
    • Space research.
    • Intelligence.
    • Public administration.
    • Logistics.
  • Only one academic member (Director of IIT Madras) is included.
  • This limits discussion on fundamental questions:
    • What should examinations measure?
    • Should current examination formats continue?

Weak Academic Ownership of NEET

  • JEE Advanced maintains credibility because IIT faculty actively design and oversee the examination.
  • In contrast, NTA paper-setters lack similar institutional ownership.
  • NEET largely relies on:
    • Algorithmic selection from question banks.
    • Repetitive questions that strengthen the coaching industry.
    • Greater scope for paper leaks and manipulation.
  • The editorial suggests that a leading AIIMS institution could be entrusted with annual NEET paper-setting to enhance academic credibility.

Structural Weakness in India’s Examination System

  • The task force's mandate extends beyond NEET to the entire examination ecosystem, including issues like the CBSE marking controversy.
  • However, the government continues to treat examination failures primarily as technical and administrative problems.
  • The deeper issue is the failure to build autonomous, high-quality academic institutions capable of managing examinations independently.
  • Without strengthening institutional autonomy and academic leadership, technological reforms alone are unlikely to ensure lasting improvements.

Conclusion

Reforming India's examination system requires more than stronger technology and tighter administration. Lasting credibility depends on empowering autonomous academic institutions, improving assessment design, and ensuring expert academic leadership in examination processes. Without addressing these structural weaknesses, reforms may only manage recurring crises rather than build a transparent, fair, and trusted evaluation system for the future.

Prelims question:

With reference to the proposed reforms of the National Testing Agency (NTA) based on the K. Radhakrishnan Committee, consider the following statements:

  1. The Committee recommended converting the NTA into a statutory body on the lines of the UPSC.
  2. It proposed establishing specialised functional divisions for areas such as cybersecurity, psychometrics, and forensics.
  3. The Committee recommended replacing all entrance examinations immediately with continuous computer-adaptive testing.
  4. The proposed task force has broad representation from career educators and assessment researchers.

How many of the above statements are correct?

  1. Only one
  2. Only two
  3. Only three
  4. All four

Answer: b