NTA plans exam centres in every district

NEW DELHI: In a move that could spare lakhs of students long journeys for entrance examinations, the education ministry has initiated an exercise to create a nationwide pool of standardised examination centres, with the aim of having at least one in every district.

The plan also envisages backup centres nearby to deal with last-minute disruptions. In a parallel move, the National Testing Agency (NTA) is creating a permanent pool of independent observers, including retired armed forces and paramilitary personnel, as part of a wider overhaul of the examination system following repeated security breaches and disruptions.Join conversation InsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig Development The twin initiatives are aimed at addressing two persistent problems - inadequate examination infrastructure and the shortage of trained personnel to supervise high-stakes tests.

NTA, which conducts examinations in more than 500 cities, has invited applications from educational institutions and testing service providers across the country to expand its network for both computer-based tests (CBT) and pen-and-paper examinations.

Govt is considering shifting NEET-UG from pen-and-paper mode to CBT.Under the Nov-7 notification, a standard CBT centre must have at least 285 functional computer workstations per shift, including buffer capacity, while a pen-and-paper centre must be able to accommodate at least 250 candidates.

Smaller CBT centres can be considered in locations where testing facilities are limited. Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app. Manash Pratim Gohain is a seasoned journalist with over two decades at The Times of India, where he has built a rich body of work spanning education policy, politics, and governance.

Renowned for his incisive coverage of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation reforms, and skilling initiatives, he has also reported on student politics, urban policy, and social movements. His political reportage—both reflective and news-driven—adds depth to his writing, bridging policy with public impact.

Through his 2,500 articles and related outlets, he has emerged as a trusted voice in national discourse, particularly in linking education reform to broader societal change. Diwali 1984: Grenade Plot to Wipe Out The Entire Gandhi Parivar, Revealed In Sonia Gandhi's Memoir ELECTIONS WITH TOI | Why Are Donors Abandoning Congress?

The 75% Funding Slump Babri, Godhra, 1984 Riots: 5 Biggest Flashpoints In Sonia Gandhi's Memoir Kulgam Attack: Terrorists Open Fire On CRPF Checkpoint In J&K; 2 Personnel Injured NSUI Leader Suspended For ‘Luring’ DU Girls To Diljit Dosanjh Concert, BJP Targets Rahul Gandhi ‘She Gave Up PM Post, Became Super PM’: Sudhanshu Trivedi Targets Sonia Gandhi After Memoir Release 'You Show Rahul's Pic With George Soros': Sam Pitroda Rubbishes BJP's 'Foreign Hand' Claims Punjab Burns Again: What Triggered Diwali Farm-Fire Surge?

I Stubble Burning I TOI Special ‘False Narratives’: India Urges Action Over Chinese Vloggers' Videos Showing Dhaka As Delhi ‘Outside Gandhi-Nehru Family…’: Pranab Mukherjee’s Daughter Hits Back At Sonia Over ‘Shocked’ Remark Indian cricketer Arshdeep Singh's romantic New Zealand proposal to Samreen Kaur: See the ring and adorable pictures Anirudh Ravichander-Kavya Maran Greece wedding look: Groom's ivory ensemble to bride's breathtaking blush-pink outfit, here's what they wore 5 strange food combinations that people around the world swear by