NATIONAL TESTING AGENCY - NTA

National Testing Agency (NTA) came into existence in 2017 by the Central Government to conduct entrance examination for admission/ fellowship in higher educational institutions. NTA is an government organization which approved by the Union Council of Ministers. NTA established by the MHRD (Ministry of Human Resource Development) & GOI (Government of India) in the year of 2017, under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860.

NTA is an independent, Autonomous and Self-Sustained Premier Testing Organization. Dr. Vineet Joshi is the first Director-General of NTA appointed by Government of India.

Role of National Testing Agency : -

The NTA is committed to direct all such matter dealing the best in every field, from test preparation, to test delivery and to test marking.

Responsibility of NTA in Medical Entrance Test :- 

NTA conduct NEET-UG (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test), from 2019 onward which was being conducted by CBSC (Central Board of Secondary Education) till 2018,for medical courses such as MBBS, BDS, BAMS & BNYS programs. NTA declare the NEET results and provide the All India Rank to the Directorate General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to the conduct of counselling for 15% of All India Quota Seats and for supplying the result to state/other Counselling Authorities. NEET UG also replaces AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi) MBBS and JIPMER (Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, Government of India). Thus NEET 2020 is the only medical entrance examination to apply for medical courses in the country (India).

Responsibility of NTA in Engineering Entrance Test :- 

NTA conduct JEE Mains (Joint Entrance Examination) twice in a year, from 2019 onward which was being conducted by CBSC (Central Board of Secondary Education), to take admissions into the National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), and Centrally Funded Technical Institutes (CFTIs) for engineering courses such as B.Tech/BE/B Arch/B planning programs. NTA declare the NEET results and provide the All India Rank to Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB)/Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) to the conduct of counselling for 50% of All India Quota Seats and for supplying the result to NITs/ IIITs/ CFTIs/ SFIs/ Others to prepare their own ranking.

Responsibility of NTA in Management Entrance Test :- 

NTA conduct CMAT (Common Management Admission Test) in the month of  January of every year, from 2019 onward which was being conducted by AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education), to take admissions into management courses such as MBA / PGDM programs. NTA declare the NEET results and provide the Rank and result to All AICTE-Approved Institutions/University Departments/Constituent Colleges/Affiliated Colleges which accepted the CMAT score ,to prepare their own ranking.

Responsibility of NTA in Pharmacy Entrance Test :- 

NTA conduct GPAT (Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test), from 2019 onward which was being conducted by AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education), to take admissions into M.Pharm (Master's in Pharmacy) program. NTA declare the NEET results and provide the score to All AICTE-Approved Institutions/University Departments / Constituent Colleges /Affiliated Colleges which accepted the GPAT score to prepare their own ranking.

Responsibility of NTA in College/University Teaching & Fellowship Exam :- 

NTA conduct UGC NET (University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test), from Dec 2018 onward which was being conducted by CBSC (Central Board of Secondary Education) in 84 subjects at 91 selected Cities of spread across the country, to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for the Eligibility for Assistant Professor only or Junior Research Fellowship JRF & Eligibility for Assistant Professor Both in Indian Universities and Colleges.

Examination Conducted by National Testing Agency : -

The NTA is responsible to conduct the following exams :-

• JNUEE - Jawaharlal Nehru University Entrance Examination Jawaharlal Nehru University Entrance Examination
• NCHM - National Council of Hotel Management and Catering Technology Entrance Examination
• DUET - Delhi University Entrance Test 
• CSIR NET - Council of Scientific and Industrial Research National Eligibility Test
• ICAR - Indian Council of Agricultural Research Examination Entrance  Examination
• IIFT - Indian Institute of Foreign Trade Entrance Examination 
• IGNOU - Indira Gandhi National Open University Entrance Test
• SWAYAM - Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds Examination
• ARPIT - Annual Refresher Program in Teaching Test
• JEE MAINS - Joint Entrance Examination 
• NEET (UG) - National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Undergraduate. 
• CMAT - Common Management Admission Test
• GPAT - Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test
• UGC NET - University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test

Objective of National Testing Agency : -

The aims of NTA include:

• To conduct efficient, transparent and international standard tests in order to assess the competency of candidates for admission.
• To undertake research on educational, professional and testing system to identify gaps in the knowledge systems and take steps for bridging them.
• To produce and disseminate information and research on education and professional development standards.
• To Identify and assign subject matter experts from various institutes  to formulate examination questions.

Vision of National Testing Agency :-

To be a premier, specialist, autonomous and self-sustained National Testing Agency that will help India leverage her demographic dividend by helping her institutions of higher education and research in selecting the most competent applicants. 

Mission of National Testing Agency :-

• To improve equity and quality in higher education and research in India by assessing the competence of candidates for admissions and recruitment using assessment tools meeting international standards of efficiency, transparency and error free delivery.
• To use the services of the best subject matter experts, psychometricians and IT delivery and security professionals to ensure that the gaps in the existing assessment systems are properly identified and bridged.
• To produce and disseminate information and research on education and professional development standards.

Core Values of National Testing Agency :-

In carrying out its mission NTA will be guided by these core values:

• Quality, efficiency, effectiveness, equity and security are central to its assessments.
• Engagement with stakeholders, viz. students, parents, teachers, experts and partner institutions preserve their trust in the system.
• Undertaking research in evaluation and updating its practices by constant innovation in assessments are key to fulfilling its mission.
• Scientifically designed and properly delivered assessments can improve teaching learning processes in classrooms.

Functions of National Testing Agency :-

• To identify partner institutions with adequate infrastructure from the existing schools and higher education institutions which would facilitate conduct of online examinations without adversely impacting their academic routine.
• To create a question bank for all subjects using the modern techniques
• To establish a strong R&D culture as well as a pool of experts in different aspects of testing
• To help individual colleges and universities in the field of testing and to provide training and advisory services to the institutions in India. To provide quality testing services to the academic institutions in India.
• To develop a state of the art culture of testing in India by using domestic and international expertise. To collaborate with international organizations like ETS to achieve the same.
• To undertake any other examination that is entrusted to it by the Ministries/Departments of Government of India/State Governments.
• To undertake the reforms and training of school boards as well as other bodies where the testing standards should be comparable with the entrance examinations.

Strategic Plan :-

• NTA is working with GoI, MHRD, UGC, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, AICTE, IITs, Universities, School Boards and State Governments towards research and develop tests for effective assessment of the target population. 
• NTA will develop, administer and mark about 150 lakh candidates annually across the country and abroad in more than 500 cities and 5000 test centres. 
• The NTAs tests scientifically prepared based on rigorous research and of the highest quality so that the user institutions make well informed decisions.
• NTA conducts research and design assessments for improving selections by fair, valid and reliable instruments, expanding teaching and learning opportunities and ushering in an era of scientific testing in the country.

NTA is working in the following four areas of expertise:

• Research
• Test Development
• Test Administration
• Test Marking

Note : NTA official website, Reference from NEET-2020 Information brochure, JEE Mains-2020 Information brochure , CMAT-2020 Information brochure