Amidst controversies about question paper leak and grace marks, NTA was hit by another question: Is it a private entity? Claims circulating on social media suggested that it is a private entity exempt from public oversight. Senior journalist Pankaj Pachauri fuelled the debate by sharing the NTA’s certificate of incorporation under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, on platform X, stating, “Shocking to know that the NTA is a private society deciding the future of the students to publicly funded government institutions. Not under RTI = no info. No public oversight = no accountability. That’s why the govt. and the ministry can wash their hands off the scam.” This claim, however, was a little misleading.
Is NTA a private entity? Here’s a fact check
Well, the NTA was incorporated on May 15, 2018, under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, making it an autonomous body with a government oversight. It was created with the Cabinet’s approval and received a one-time grant of Rs 25 crore.
The agency is administered by its general body, and its chairman is appointed by the Government ofIndia. Additionally, the Center can issue policy instructions to the NTA, which it is obliged to follow. Contrary to the claims, the NTA is subject to the Right to Information (RTI) Act. For an organization to fall under the RTI Act, it must be constituted by government approval or notification and be substantially financed by the government. The NTA meets these criteria, making it a public authority accountable under the RTI Act. The RTI portal lists the NTA as one of the public authorities required to provide information under the Act. Citizens have sought and received answers from the NTA under the RTI Act.
Implications of being incorporated under the Societies Registration Act
Incorporation under the Societies Registration Act grants the NTA a considerable degree of autonomy. At the same time, it is subject to the Right to Information (RTI) Act, as already mentioned. However, there are some other implications of the Societies Registration Act too!
Being a registered society, the NTA possesses a legal identity. This status enables it to enter into contracts, acquire and hold property, and sue or be sued in its name. Moreover, the autonomous status allows the NTA to hire professionals with the expertise necessary to manage and conduct examinations.
Despite its autonomous nature, the NTA is not exempt from public oversight. The Societies Registration Act mandates that registered societies maintain detailed records of their activities, finances, and meetings. This requirement ensures a level of accountability and transparency, helping to build trust among stakeholders, including students, educational institutions, and the general public.
Incorporation under the Societies Registration Act also provides the NTA with the flexibility to receive grants, donations, and other forms of financial assistance from various sources, including the government and private entities. This ability to mobilize resources is essential for the NTA to expand its capabilities and improve its services.
How does the NTA function?
Media reports indicate that the National Testing Agency (NTA) functions with a core team of fewer than 25 permanent employees. Despite its small workforce, the NTA manages over two dozen major examinations, including the highly competitive NEET UG. Established in 2018, the NTA was designed to emulate the Educational Testing Service (ETS) in the United States, which oversees exams like the SAT and GRE for college admissions. While ETS employs over 200 staff members, the NTA operates with a significantly smaller team, aiming to be a “lean, efficient entity” that focuses on administering online exams with the help of reliable technical partners.
To handle tasks such as establishing test centers and securely transmitting encrypted question papers, the NTA outsources to technical partners. These partners are selected through a rigorous process. Tata Consultancy Services was one of the initial key technical agencies involved. Although the NTA initially concentrated on computer-based online testing, it has since expanded to include pen-and-paper exams, beginning with this year’s NEET.
