NTA- National Testing Agency
NTA- The National Testing Agency was incorporated as a Society in November 2017 under Societies Registration Act 1860, to conduct efficient, transparent, and international standards tests in order to assess the competency of candidates for admissions to premier higher educational institutions.
Table of Contents
What is NTA / National Testing Agency
National Testing Agency (NTA), an autonomous and self-sustained premier testing organization to conduct entrance examinations for admission/fellowship in higher educational institutions, will be set up as a Society registered under the Indian Societies Registration Act, 1860. It shall be chaired by an eminent educationist appointed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development.
The NTA will initially conduct those entrance examinations which are currently being conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The NTA would conduct the first such test in 2019. The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the setting up of the National Testing Agency.
This is expected to bring in high standards of education in institutes of Higher Education. At present, CBSE conducts NET twice a year and other entrance exams like JEE Main, NEET UG, CTET, etc., once a year. It is proposed that once the NTA is fully operationalized, those exams which are conducted more than once in a year will be transferred to NTA so that a student may appear in any one or all such tests conducted during the academic session concerned.
Objectives of National Testing Agency
The NTA is entrusted with the task of conducting entrance examinations for admission/fellowship in higher educational institutions. The Governing Council of NTA shall define the scope and functions of the Agency.
Objectives of National Testing Agency
- NTA shall conduct entrance examination for admission/fellowship in higher educational institutions;
- NTA shall act as a mentor institution to provide academic leadership in the testing area;
- NTA shall build and operationalize an objective, transparent, and international standard testing and assessment system for admission/fellowship in higher education institutions;
- NTA shall ensure that tests are reliable, valid, fair, and secure;
- NTA shall set up state-of-the-art test practice centers at different locations across the country on a need basis.
Functions of National Testing Agency
NTA will conduct the examinations efficiently and in a transparent and robust manner on behalf of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India. The establishment of NTA will benefit about 40 lakh students appearing in various entrance examinations.
Functions:
The function of NTA shall be to
(i) Conduct Entrance Examinations for admission/fellowship in higher educational institutions;
(ii) Disseminate information regarding entrance examinations;
(iii) Provide feedback to States/Institutions/Universities on quality education; and
(iv) Any other activity connected with entrance examination or admission to higher education institutions as may be entrusted by MHRD
Governance of NTA
The National Testing Agency is registered as a Society under the Indian Societies Registration Act, 1860. The Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India is the Patron-in-Chief of the NTA, and Dr. M. Jagadesh Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University is the President of the Society. Shri Vineet Joshi, Director General will be heading the Secretariat of NTA and will also be responsible for the day-to-day management and smooth functioning of the Agency.
For this purpose, he will be assisted by an Executive Committee. The Executive Committee members would include eminent academicians from various fields & subjects; representatives from Central Universities/Deemed Universities, Directors of IITs/IISc/NITs/IIITs, and other representative institutions deputed by MHRD.
The Executive Committee will be chaired by Director General and shall have powers to take decisions on all matters related to the conduct of examinations except those that are specifically required to be referred to the general body or governing board.
National Testing Agency (NTA) has been granted autonomous status to conduct entrance examinations for higher educational institutions in India starting from 2019 onwards.
Significance of National Testing Agency
The importance of the National Testing Agency (NTA) has shot up like never before. Earlier, students had to prepare for different exams conducted by State Boards and CBSE. Now, they have to prepare for a common exam. NTA will conduct all major exams, including JEE Main, Advanced, and NEET, twice a year.
The syllabus of all exams will be the same. The only difference will be in the pattern of questions asked in each exam.
Students need not worry about being prepared for all these exams separately. There is no change in the syllabus and students can focus on their preparation without having to worry about any new concepts or topics added to any particular exam.
This is the first time that the dates of both, the JEE Main, Advanced, and NEET, have been announced together. This is a good move from the government’s side as it allows students to plan their preparation accordingly.
Also, unlike previous years when sometimes two exams were held on the same day, there is no clash between JEE Main, Advanced, and NEET this year.
Exams Conducted by NTA
NTA conducts the Top 10 Exams given below:-
- CUCET Central Universities Common Entrance Test
- JEE Main Joint Entrance Examination – Main
- NEET National Eligibility cum Entrance Test
- UPSEE Uttar Pradesh State Entrance Exam
- CMAT Common Management Admission Test (formerly known as AICTE CMAT)
- GPAT Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (formerly known as AICTE GPAT)
- IGNOU OPENMAT Indira Gandhi National Open University OPENMAT
- NCHM JEE National Council for Hotel Management Joint Entrance Examination (NCHMCT JEE)
- National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology (NCHMCT)
- CSIR NET