Task force to formulate blueprint of national testing agency

The human resource development ministry Friday announced setting up of a task force to formulate a blueprint of a uniform entrance examination for admissions to different branches of higher learning.

Sanjay Dhande, former director of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) - Kanpur, will be the chairman of the seven-member task force that will prepare the blueprint for creating a National Testing Agency (NTA), a ministry official said.

It will have the representatives from Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), University Grants Commission (UGC), National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the ministry.

The step has been taken to reduce stress on students. "The rationale for setting up the NTA lies in ensuring that multiplicity of entrance examination that leads to stress on the students is addressed in a comprehensive manner," the official said.

This will be achieved "by formulating a uniform entrance examination for admissions in different branches of higher learning," he added.

The task force will prepare a blueprint for creating a special purpose vehicle to take the concept of NTA forward.

The decision for setting up the NTA was taken at a meeting of the Central Advisory Board for Education (CABE) last month.

"In the meeting, it was decided that the proposal to set up the NTA will be taken forward in consultation with all stakeholders," the official said.