The Union Education Ministry's high-level panel, formed to recommend examination reforms and review the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA), is set to meet today, sources report.

In response to recent controversies over irregularities in competitive exams, the ministry notified a seven-member committee on Saturday, headed by former ISRO chief K. Radhakrishnan. The panel's mandate is to ensure transparent, smooth, and fair conduct of examinations administered by the NTA.

The committee will provide recommendations for reforming the examination process, enhancing data security protocols, and improving the structure and functioning of the NTA. It is also tasked with reviewing existing security protocols related to exam paper setting and other procedures, with the aim of strengthening the overall system.

The NTA has been under scrutiny for lapses in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET-UG) and the University Grants Commission–National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET). In response to these issues, the NTA conducted a retest on Sunday for 1,563 NEET-UG candidates who had previously been awarded grace marks due to time losses at six centers.

The NEET-UG 2024 exam is currently being investigated for several irregularities, including alleged paper leaks. Additionally, the UGC-NET exam was canceled a day after it was conducted, following inputs received by the ministry indicating that the exam's integrity had been compromised.

This high-level panel's recommendations are expected to bring significant reforms to restore confidence in the examination system.