The NTA record: Leaks, manipulations, cancellations across exams

The National Testing Agency (NTA) was created in 2018 to replace multiple agencies conducting entrance exams for higher education, with the aim of eliminating leaks and malpractices. Since its inception, the NTA has conducted over 275 exams involving 6.61 crore candidates by March 2026, including JEE-Mains, NEET-UG, CUET, and UGC-NET, while achieving financial self-sufficiency with a surplus of ₹448 crore in 2025. However, the NTA’s record contradicts its founding mission. Allegations of paper leaks emerged as early as 2020, when questions from the JEE-Mains January 9, 2020, exam were allegedly shared online during the test. The NTA denied wrongdoing, citing jammers at exam centers. A year later, in 2021, impersonation and software manipulation were exposed in Sonepat, Haryana, involving Affinity Education and a Russian-origin hacker. Vinay Dahiya, the alleged mastermind, was arrested in 2023 after infiltrating the exam system remotely. Recent controversies include the Delhi High Court’s order for a forensic probe into JEE-Mains 2025 scorecard tampering, where two candidates reported their original high percentiles (above 94 and 98) being replaced with lower scores. The NTA denies the claims, but investigations continue. Students have also reported mismatched response sheets, errors in answer keys, and technical issues like system freezes during exams. The NTA’s failures extend beyond JEE-Mains, with NEET-UG leaks and cancellations of UGC-NET exams due to irregularities. Despite these setbacks, the agency remains responsible for critical exams, including PhD entrance tests for universities like Delhi University and JNU, as well as scholarship tests like PM Yashasvi Yojana. A 2025 Parliamentary Committee report acknowledged the NTA’s financial stability but did not address persistent concerns over exam integrity. The NTA’s struggles highlight systemic challenges in India’s high-stakes testing system, where allegations of manipulation and technical failures continue to undermine its credibility. While the agency has expanded its operations, its inability to prevent leaks, ensure accurate scoring, or maintain stable exam conditions raises questions about its effectiveness in fulfilling its original mandate.