The government on Saturday removed National Testing Agency (NTA) Director General Subodh Singh from the post in the wake of massive irregularities in the NEET and UGC-NET examinations.
In a separate decision, the Union Health Ministry postponed the NEET-PG examination scheduled to be held on Sunday.
India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) Chairman and Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola has been assigned additional charge of the testing agency till appointment of a regular incumbent.
"NTA DG has been put on compulsory wait in the Department of Personnel and Training. Pradeep Singh Kharola has been assigned additional charge of NTA DG till further orders," said an official.
The health ministry, in a separate circular, said it has decided to undertake a thorough assessment of the robustness of processes of the NEET-PG entrance examination, conducted by the NTA for medical students.
"It has accordingly been decided, as a precautionary measure to postpone the NEET-PG entrance examination, scheduled to be held tomorrow -- 23rd June, 2024," the ministry said.
The fresh date of this examination will be notified at the earliest, it said.
Earlier in the day, the government formed a seven-member high-level panel to ensure transparent, smooth and fair conduct of examinations through the NTA. Former ISRO chief K. Radhakrishnan will lead the committee.
"Transparent, tamper-free and zero-error examinations are a commitment. Setting up of the high-level committee of experts is the first of a series of steps to improve the efficiency of the examination process, put an end to all possible malpractices, strengthen data security protocols and overhaul and reform the NTA," Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said.
The education ministry announced the cancellation of the UGC-NET exam on Wednesday evening—just a day after it was held across the nation—following prima facie indications that the integrity of exam was compromised.
The NTA, the nodal agency of the competitive exams in the country, is already under scanner for the alleged irregularities and paper leak in the NEET-UG exam.
