New Delhi: In a major move to restore the credibility of its examination process following the recent NEET-UG and UGC-NET controversies, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has introduced a stringent four-stage screening process for hiring subject experts. This overhaul comes shortly after the agency removed over 600 subject experts from its panel to tighten examination security.
The newly recruited subject experts will be responsible for setting question papers for various national-level entrance examinations conducted by the NTA. To ensure transparency and prevent conflicts of interest, teachers applying from across the country must now submit comprehensive documentation, including educational and employment records, identity proofs, confidentiality declarations, and a ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) from their current employers.
According to official guidelines, the NTA has mandated the following four-stage screening process for empanelment:
1. Document and Eligibility Verification: In the initial stage, applications will be scrutinized to verify completeness, basic qualifications, experience, and the authenticity of supporting documents such as Aadhaar, PAN, and the NOC.
2. Subject-Matter Evaluation: Shortlisted candidates will then be evaluated based on their academic standing, research record, prior experience in setting examination papers, and overall subject expertise. This assessment will be conducted by specialized subject-expert committees constituted by the NTA.
3. Comprehensive Background Verification: Candidates clearing the subject evaluation will undergo rigorous background checks. This phase will meticulously cross-verify academic credentials, job history, and conflict-of-interest declarations to ensure absolute integrity.
4. Formal Empanelment: Applicants who successfully navigate the first three stages will be formally inducted into the NTA panel for specific subjects and examination types.
The empanelment will be valid for three years, contingent upon the expert’s satisfactory performance and continued integrity. The NTA has explicitly stated that it reserves the right to terminate an expert’s contract before the three-year term if any terms are breached.
The NTA, which conducts around 10 major national entrance exams annually, typically requires the services of empanelled experts for 7 to 15 days a year. For their crucial role in the examination process, subject experts are remunerated between ₹35,000 and ₹40,000 per year.