The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced a significant overhaul of its leadership structure, appointing four senior government officers to key positions as part of efforts to restore credibility ahead of the NEET UG 2026 re-exam scheduled for June 21. The appointments follow the cancellation of the original NEET UG 2026 examination held on May 3, which was called off on May 12 after allegations of a coordinated paper leak surfaced.
According to an official statement from the agency, the move is part of a broader institutional reform programme recommended by the High-Level Expert Committee constituted by the Central government to overhaul the conduct of high-stakes national examinations.
Four Senior Officers Inducted into NTA Leadership
The NTA has posted two Joint Secretary-level officers to serve as Additional Director Generals, in line with the recommendations of the Radhakrishnan Committee. Additionally, two Director-level officers have also been inducted into the agency. The NTA stated that all four officers bring strong administrative backgrounds from central services and inter-ministerial experience, which is expected to support the discharge of its expanded mandate.
“These measures are aimed at enhancing the integrity, transparency and operational excellence of the high-stakes examinations conducted by the Agency, which collectively serve over 1 crore candidates each year,” NTA said in an official release.
In addition to these appointments, two Joint Directors have also been assigned to the agency. Akash Jain has been appointed on a lateral shift basis until December 4, 2029, while Aditya Rajendra Bhojgadhiya has been posted until May 16, 2028.
NTA Begins Hiring for CTO, CFO, and GM-HR Roles
Beyond the senior officer postings, the NTA has also advertised three specialist leadership positions — Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Chief Finance Officer (CFO), and General Manager (Human Resources). Applications have been invited within 15 days of the advertisement’s publication on the NTA website, with selection based on qualifications, relevant experience and leadership capabilities.
The CTO will be responsible for overseeing the digital examination ecosystem, including biometric authentication systems, AI-based impersonation detection, cybersecurity infrastructure and coordination with agencies such as NIC, C-DAC, CERT-In and MeiTY. The CFO will handle financial governance and examination-wise accounting, while the GM-HR will manage workforce planning and institutional policy.
Background: NEET UG 2026 Paper Leak and Reforms
The NEET UG 2026 paper leak controversy came to light after investigators recovered a “guess paper” from Rajasthan that contained 120–140 questions matching the actual examination paper. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which took over the probe, has since arrested more than 10 accused persons connected to the organised leak network. The incident prompted widespread criticism from opposition parties and student communities, with demands for systemic reforms at the NTA.
The seven-member Radhakrishnan Committee, formed earlier to examine exam-related irregularities, had specifically recommended that the NTA strengthen its permanent staff structure to improve accountability. Following these recommendations, the government sanctioned 16 new posts within the agency.
With the NTA new appointments now in place and specialist hiring underway, these structural reforms signal the government’s intent to rebuild institutional trust ahead of the NEET UG 2026 re-exam on June 21. Looking further ahead, the Ministry of Education has also confirmed that NEET UG will transition to a computer-based testing format from 2027, a step designed to significantly reduce the risk of paper leaks and malpractice in future examinations.