India's high-stakes exam system faces a crisis of trust

What the report says

India’s National Testing Agency (NTA), created in 2017 to make major exams fairer and more reliable, is now under intense scrutiny after a series of scandals eroded confidence in its handling of high-stakes tests. According to BBC World News, the latest crisis came in June when a leaked medical entrance paper forced more than two million students to retake the exam and helped trigger youth-led protests that led to the resignation of the federal education minister.

The government has responded by appointing a high-level reform panel chaired by tech entrepreneur Nandan Nilekani, but many students and education experts remain unconvinced. BBC World News reported that a similar review in 2024 produced more than 100 recommendations after another medical exam controversy, yet only around half were reportedly fully carried out. That recurring pattern has fueled debate over whether the problem lies with the NTA’s management, its heavy use of temporary staff, and exam security, or with the broader structure of India’s testing system.

Experts quoted by BBC World News suggested possible changes including more computer-based testing, standardized online exam centres, multi-stage or multi-session exams, and allowing students more than one attempt a year. Others cautioned that abolishing the NTA would not necessarily solve the issue, arguing instead for deeper institutional reform.

The dispute matters because millions of Indian students depend on these exams for university and professional opportunities, often after years of preparation and significant expense. For many families, even a cancelled or delayed test can derail an entire academic year, making trust in the system a national concern.