‘Training The Paper Setters’ Will Be A Part Of National Testing Agency’s Mandate

HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar has said that “There is no system for paper-setter training till now. We will introduce it as part of the National Testing Agency’s mandate”. Thus, now the question papers of major examination like JEE Main and NEET will be composed by some well-trained paper setters. This will definitely reduce the chances of ambiguity and mistakes in the question papers. Till now there is no such system set up for training the paper setters. This move may come as a big advantage and relief for the students.

This year in NEET, there were many complaints regarding errors in regional language question papers. CBSE which is the conducting body for NEET, JEE Main and many other national level examinations have gone through some tough times in this regard. Thus, one of the advantages of NTA is that CBSE will be relieved of these examinations and will be able to concentrate only on class 10 and 12 board examinations. This will improve the quality of examination both at the school level and national level entrance examinations, eliminating the chances of errors.

There was a review of the proposed body – NTA on June 17, 2018, by Prakash Javadekar. After which he has just mentioned that the National Testing Agency is expected to conduct some of the examinations that the CBSE has been conducting until now. But no information regarding “when will NTA take charge of these examinations” is yet not clear.

Although many reports claim that NTA will start conducting examinations from 2019. But there is no official announcements as of now.

Now that The National Testing Agency (NTA) will also train paper setters to set better question papers and provide better model answers, this is an addition to the many advantages. Although till now there is no word from the Ministry, CBSE or NTA regarding when will NTA take charge of these examinations, confusions and anxiousness are rising among the students.

The agency’s role, as proposed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), is to put in place a strong and healthy system for the conduct of examinations. The creation of NTA was approved by the union cabinet on November 2017.  After a one-time grant of Rs. 25 crores to the NTA, it is supposed to become financially self-sustainable.

Former Chairman of CBSE, Vineet Joshi has been appointed the Director General of NTA. The composition of NTA which has been proposed is such that there will be Board of Governors comprising of members from user institutions. The Director-General will be assisted by nine verticals headed by academicians/experts.

Chance of NTA conducting examinations like JEE Main and NEET in 2019 seems to be high but is uncertain unless the words are out officially. Till then you can let us know your views in the comment section below.