Amidst the NEET paper leak controversy, the Central Government has approved important appointments at the administrative level in the National Testing Agency (NTA). The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of two Joint Secretaries and two Joint Directors. According to the order issued by the government, Anuja Bapat and Ruchita Vij have been appointed joint secretaries. At the same time, Akash Jain and Aditya Rajendra Bhojgadia have been appointed to the post of joint directors.
Administrative changes of NTA
These appointments are being considered an important step towards strengthening the administrative and operational system of NTA. This reshuffle is considered important amid the increasing challenges regarding the examination system and functioning of the agency in recent times. According to the government order, Anuja Bapat, a 1998 batch officer of the Indian Statistical Service, and Ruchita Vij, a 2004 batch officer of the Indian Revenue Service, will be joint secretaries in NTA for five years. For this, the vacant Deputy Secretary level posts have been temporarily upgraded.
Education Minister had talked about changes in NTA
The order of the Central Government said that Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) officer Akash Jain and Indian Audit and Accounts Service officer Aditya Rajendra Bhojgadia have been appointed as joint directors in NTA. Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan had admitted on Friday (15 May 2026) that there is a need for further reforms in NTA. He said, ‘We have received many suggestions for reforms. Improvement is a continuous process. It is our responsibility that NTA should work without any mistake (Zero-Error).
Court sent the accused to CBI custody
More than 22 lakh students had appeared for the NEET-UG exam on May 3 this year, which was canceled this week following allegations of paper leak. CBI has registered a case in the matter of NEET-UG paper leak and has formed a team for investigation. A Delhi court on Saturday sent PV Kulkarni, the alleged kingpin of the NEET question paper leak case, and another accused Manisha Waghmare to CBI custody for 10 days.
