Higher Education Secretary Reviews New NTA Office Amid Exam Security Overhaul

Higher Education Secretary Deepti Gaur Mukherjee on Saturday reviewed the infrastructure and administrative arrangements at the newly relocated office of the National Testing Agency (NTA) in New Delhi, as the Centre steps up measures to strengthen examination security following the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy and concerns over administrative and confidentiality lapses.

Mukherjee interacted with senior NTA officials, inspected operational facilities and reviewed the new infrastructure and administrative setup. The Ministry of Education said the exercise was aimed at ensuring the seamless conduct of upcoming examinations. The NTA has shifted its confidential and sensitive operations from its earlier Okhla office to the Government of India Press Building on Minto Road in central Delhi. The agency has been allotted 55,524.53 square feet covering the fifth floor and portions of the fourth and sixth floors.

Security at the new facility has been significantly strengthened, with 39 CISF personnel deployed to regulate access to sensitive areas. Measures include frisking, X-ray baggage screening and Door Frame Metal Detectors (DFMDs), while confidential sections have been separately demarcated. The move follows CBI findings that highlighted security gaps at the former premises, including the absence of frisking for experts entering or leaving confidential areas and weaknesses in live CCTV monitoring.

The CBI has filed a chargesheet against 13 accused in the NEET-UG 2026 paper-leak case. Its investigation involved 360 witnesses, 422 documents and 43 material objects. The agency has alleged criminal conspiracy and other offences, with the allegations remaining subject to judicial proceedings.

The physical relocation forms part of a wider NTA restructuring programme. The agency is moving towards functional verticals covering information security, test security, assessment research and development, test centres, candidate experience, human resources and vigilance. It has designated a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and is strengthening controls involving secure systems, biometric authentication, surveillance and confidential operations, including air-gapped systems.

The overhaul builds on the 101 recommendations of the K Radhakrishnan Committee, constituted after the 2024 NEET controversy. In July 2026, the government also formed a High-Powered Task Force headed by Nandan Nilekani to examine wider reforms in public examinations, including security, technology, governance and infrastructure.

The Supreme Court is also monitoring the reform process and has indicated plans to inspect the NTA's new headquarters. Established in 2017, the NTA conducts major examinations including NEET-UG, JEE (Main), CUET-UG and UGC-NET. The latest inspection comes as the agency attempts to translate recent lessons into stronger security, transparency and accountability across the entire examination process.