Pradeep Singh Kharola appointed new DG of NTA.(ANI)
Overview of Recent Changes
The National Testing Agency (NTA) is undergoing significant leadership changes amidst controversy surrounding exam irregularities. Subodh Kumar Singh, the previous Director General (DG) of NTA, has been placed on "compulsory wait" in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) until further orders. Pradeep Singh Kharola has been given additional charge as the new DG of NTA.
Controversy and Government Actions
The government has cancelled the UGC-NET exam and postponed the CSIR-UGC NET due to allegations of irregularities and paper leaks in the NEET-UG exam. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stated that the "top leadership" of NTA is under scrutiny for these alleged irregularities. However, he denied any paper leak in the CSIR-UGC NET, which led to its postponement rather than cancellation.
About the National Testing Agency (NTA)
The NTA, established in November 2017 under the Indian Societies Registration Act, 1860, is an autonomous body responsible for conducting various entrance examinations for admissions to higher educational institutions. These exams include NEET, JEE, CTET, GATE, GPAT, GMAT, CAT, UGC-NET, and CSIR-UGC NET. The agency is chaired by an eminent educationist appointed by the education ministry, currently Pradeep Kumar Joshi, a former chairman of UPSC.
Profile of Pradeep Singh Kharola
Pradeep Singh Kharola, a 1985 batch IAS officer of the Karnataka cadre, has had a distinguished career:
- Air India: Appointed as the head of Air India in November 2017. During his tenure, the government failed in its first attempt to privatise Air India.
- Civil Aviation Secretary: Appointed as the new civil aviation secretary in 2019.
- India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO): Serving as the chairman since 2022.
Kharola has now been assigned the additional charge of NTA DG until the appointment of a regular incumbent.
The leadership change in NTA comes at a crucial time as the agency faces allegations of exam irregularities. Pradeep Singh Kharola's extensive experience in various administrative roles is expected to help navigate the agency through this challenging period.
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