Constituted in 2017 by the BJP government to conduct entrance examination admissions to higher education institutions, the testing agency is an autonomous body under the Department of Higher Education in the Union Ministry of Education.

What is it that has troubled the NTA? Insiders say it is the lack of a robust process and mechanism to handle such large examinations where more than 20 lakh students sit for an exam in a single day. “This is what the high-level panel aims to address,” an official told News18.

The NTA is facing allegations of irregularities in the conduct of the NEET-UG 2024, for which 24 lakh candidates had registered. Arrests have been made in Bihar where accused have detailed how they received the question paper on the eve of the exam.