50% of reform-linked senior posts at NTA still vacant despite fresh appointments
The Centre has made four new senior appointments at the National Testing Agency as scrutiny over examination irregularities continues. But with only eight of 16 reform-era posts filled, questions over the pace of institutional strengthening remain.
Nearly a year after the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak exposed weaknesses in India’s examination system and triggered calls for reforms, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has received four new senior-level appointments. However, half of the top administrative posts created to strengthen the agency after the controversy continue to remain vacant.
The latest appointments come amid renewed scrutiny of the NTA following the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 over paper leak allegations and ongoing questions around examination security and governance.
POSTS WERE CREATED AFTER NEET-UG 2024 PAPER LEAK
The vacancies trace back to October 2024, when the government approved the creation of 16 new senior administrative posts at the NTA following the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak controversy.
The posts included:
8 Director-level positions
8 Joint Director-level positions
The restructuring followed recommendations by a high-level committee headed by former ISRO chairman Dr K. Radhakrishnan, which was constituted to examine operational and structural weaknesses within the NTA.
The committee recommended broad reforms, including:
Creation of functional verticals headed by Directors
Greater accountability through permanent staffing
Reduced dependence on contractual employees
Stronger internal governance mechanisms
Formation of an empowered body to oversee the agency’s functioning
Notably, the Joint Director rank did not previously exist within NTA’s sanctioned administrative structure. The creation of these posts was intended to strengthen middle and senior management layers inside the organisation.
ONLY 8 OF 16 SENIOR POSTS FILLED SO FAR
Despite the urgency attached to reforms, appointments have moved slowly.
According to information shared by the government in Rajya Sabha earlier and updated with the latest appointments, staffing remains incomplete.
Joint Director posts: 5 filled, 3 vacant
Three Joint Directors had joined the NTA in December 2024:
Archana Shukla (Indian Statistical Service)
Amit Kumar (Indian Supply Service)
Shivani (Indian Railway Personnel Service)
With the appointments of Akash Jain and Aditya Rajendra Bhojgadhiya, the total number of filled Joint Director positions has risen to five out of eight, leaving three vacancies.
Director posts: 3 filled, 5 vacant
Only three Director-level appointments have been made so far:
Sandeep Kumar Mishra (IRS–Income Tax), appointed in December 2024
Pawan Kumar Sharma (IRSSE), appointed in March 2025
Vijaykumar Vinayakrao Patil (IOFS), appointed in March 2025
That leaves five Director-level posts vacant.
Overall, only 8 of the 16 newly created senior positions have been filled, resulting in a vacancy rate of 50%.
QUESTIONS OVER PACE OF REFORM
The continuing vacancies may raise concerns because these posts were introduced specifically to prevent governance failures similar to those highlighted by the NEET controversy.
The Radhakrishnan committee had warned against excessive dependence on contractual staffing within the NTA, arguing that stronger institutional capacity and permanent administrative structures were necessary for accountability.
Education policy observers have repeatedly pointed to staffing gaps and governance challenges as potential vulnerabilities in agencies handling high-stakes examinations involving millions of candidates.
The issue has gained renewed attention as investigations into examination irregularities continue. The CBI probe linked to the NEET paper leak remains underway, while concerns around transparency and examination security persist.
Although the latest appointments indicate efforts to strengthen the agency, the slow pace of filling vacancies has led to questions over whether the NTA will have sufficient administrative capacity to oversee examinations such as NEET and JEE without further structural strain.
Nearly a year after the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak exposed weaknesses in India’s examination system and triggered calls for reforms, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has received four new senior-level appointments. However, half of the top administrative posts created to strengthen the agency after the controversy continue to remain vacant.
The latest appointments come amid renewed scrutiny of the NTA following the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 over paper leak allegations and ongoing questions around examination security and governance.
POSTS WERE CREATED AFTER NEET-UG 2024 PAPER LEAK
The vacancies trace back to October 2024, when the government approved the creation of 16 new senior administrative posts at the NTA following the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak controversy.
The posts included:
8 Director-level positions
8 Joint Director-level positions
The restructuring followed recommendations by a high-level committee headed by former ISRO chairman Dr K. Radhakrishnan, which was constituted to examine operational and structural weaknesses within the NTA.
The committee recommended broad reforms, including:
Creation of functional verticals headed by Directors
Greater accountability through permanent staffing
Reduced dependence on contractual employees
Stronger internal governance mechanisms
Formation of an empowered body to oversee the agency’s functioning
Notably, the Joint Director rank did not previously exist within NTA’s sanctioned administrative structure. The creation of these posts was intended to strengthen middle and senior management layers inside the organisation.
ONLY 8 OF 16 SENIOR POSTS FILLED SO FAR
Despite the urgency attached to reforms, appointments have moved slowly.
According to information shared by the government in Rajya Sabha earlier and updated with the latest appointments, staffing remains incomplete.
Joint Director posts: 5 filled, 3 vacant
Three Joint Directors had joined the NTA in December 2024:
Archana Shukla (Indian Statistical Service)
Amit Kumar (Indian Supply Service)
Shivani (Indian Railway Personnel Service)
With the appointments of Akash Jain and Aditya Rajendra Bhojgadhiya, the total number of filled Joint Director positions has risen to five out of eight, leaving three vacancies.
Director posts: 3 filled, 5 vacant
Only three Director-level appointments have been made so far:
Sandeep Kumar Mishra (IRS–Income Tax), appointed in December 2024
Pawan Kumar Sharma (IRSSE), appointed in March 2025
Vijaykumar Vinayakrao Patil (IOFS), appointed in March 2025
That leaves five Director-level posts vacant.
Overall, only 8 of the 16 newly created senior positions have been filled, resulting in a vacancy rate of 50%.
QUESTIONS OVER PACE OF REFORM
The continuing vacancies may raise concerns because these posts were introduced specifically to prevent governance failures similar to those highlighted by the NEET controversy.
The Radhakrishnan committee had warned against excessive dependence on contractual staffing within the NTA, arguing that stronger institutional capacity and permanent administrative structures were necessary for accountability.
Education policy observers have repeatedly pointed to staffing gaps and governance challenges as potential vulnerabilities in agencies handling high-stakes examinations involving millions of candidates.
The issue has gained renewed attention as investigations into examination irregularities continue. The CBI probe linked to the NEET paper leak remains underway, while concerns around transparency and examination security persist.
Although the latest appointments indicate efforts to strengthen the agency, the slow pace of filling vacancies has led to questions over whether the NTA will have sufficient administrative capacity to oversee examinations such as NEET and JEE without further structural strain.
