Govt Sacks 47 NTA Officials, Tightens Anti-Leak Law

Facing weeks of student protests and sustained political pressure over alleged examination irregularities, the central government has rolled out its strongest response yet to the NEET-UG paper leak row. Within a single 24-hour window, authorities terminated 47 officials from the National Testing Agency, advanced a tougher anti-leak bill, activated special courts for speedy trials, and reshuffled senior officials in the education ministry.

Sweeping Changes at the NTA

The dismissal of 47 NTA staffers forms the centerpiece of what officials are calling a major institutional overhaul, with further legal and criminal proceedings reportedly in the pipeline. As part of the broader bureaucratic reshuffle, Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi was also moved as the government looks to reset leadership at the top of the exam body.

Harsher Penalties and Faster Trials

A newly drafted bill proposes prison terms ranging from five to ten years, along with fines that could reach Rs 10 crore, for those found guilty of leaking examination papers. The proposed law is designed to cover a wide range of high-stakes national exams, including NEET, JEE, CUET, UPSC, and SSC. To back up the tougher penalties, the government has also designated special fast-track courts for paper leak cases, with the Delhi High Court naming a dedicated judge to handle such matters.

Despite the flurry of reforms, protest leaders have signaled that these steps fall short of their core demand. They continue to insist that Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan step down, calling his resignation non-negotiable regardless of the administrative and legal measures announced so far.