Archive · 21 Aug 2026
NTA's Application-Based Expert Pool Draws Professors' Mediocrity Concerns
The National Testing Agency wants to build a group of experts for its exams.
These experts would help write and check questions and answer keys.
They would also help with translations and improving exam quality.
Applicants need education, work experience, and published research.
They must promise that they have no conflicts with coaching or testing companies.
The agency will check their qualifications and backgrounds.
Professor Rajeev Kumar thinks excellent academics may not want to apply through this process.
Professor Binay Panda says the agency should directly identify the best experts instead.
The National Testing Agency is creating a subject matter expert pool after repeated examination problems.
Experts may help with question setting, vetting, translation, moderation, answer keys, and exam-quality research.
General-category applicants need 60 percent in their master's courses, eight years of experience, and published work.
Applicants must declare no coaching, testing-company, or competitive-exam preparation connections and maintain a clean record.
Professors Rajeev Kumar and Binay Panda criticized the application-based process, warning it could discourage strong academics and encourage mediocrity.
- Who
- The National Testing Agency, academics and researchers, and professors Rajeev Kumar and Binay Panda.
- What
- The National Testing Agency is inviting applications to create a pool of subject matter experts for examination-related work.
- When
- The initiative was launched after repeated examination fiascos; the article does not provide a specific date.
- Where
- The experts will be drawn from different higher educational institutions, with some work conducted at prescribed NTA venues.
- Why
- The National Testing Agency wants experts to support question setting, vetting, translation, moderation, answer-key verification, curriculum mapping, and exam-quality research.
NTA's Selection Rationale
Professors' Criticism
Application-based recruitment
NTA's Selection Rationale
The National Testing Agency is inviting academics and researchers to apply so it can create a formal pool of subject matter experts.
Professors' Criticism
Rajeev Kumar and Binay Panda argue that strong academics may not apply through forms and that the model could encourage mediocrity.
Integrity declarations
NTA's Selection Rationale
The agency requires declarations about conflicts of interest, family members taking the same test, and clean disciplinary, vigilance, and criminal records.
Professors' Criticism
Kumar says declarations are meaningful only when selected experts have high ethical and professional standards, and he called for rigorous scrutiny of their backgrounds and later professional dealings.
Academic representation
NTA's Selection Rationale
The agency plans to use committees to evaluate applicants based on expertise, research, and examination-related experience.
Professors' Criticism
Panda criticized the governing body's lack of representation for independent academics, students, and technology experts, while Kumar called for experts to work in a conducive academic environment without unnecessary pressure.
- Expert roles
- Question setting, vetting, translation, moderation, item-bank curation, answer-key verification, curriculum mapping, and exam-quality research.
- Application limit
- Each individual may apply for up to three subject domains.
- General-category requirements
- At least 60 percent in master's courses, eight years of teaching, research, or professional experience, and published work.
- Conflict safeguards
- Applicants must declare that they have no connection with coaching institutes, testing companies, or private entities preparing students for competitive exams.
- Family restriction
- No family member of an applicant may appear for the same test.
- Integrity obligations
- Selected experts must maintain confidentiality, use NTA-provided devices at designated venues, and avoid taking or recording examination material outside permitted conditions.
- Selection process
- Subject expert committees will assess domain expertise, research work, and experience in examination-related activities.