CISF Takes Charge: New Security Measures for National Testing Agency Amid NEET Controversy

In light of recent controversies surrounding the NEET examination, the National Testing Agency has implemented new security measures with the help of the Central Industrial Security Force. Following a significant paper leak incident that led to nationwide protests and the resignation of the former education minister, the NTA has moved to a new office and is enhancing its security protocols. This includes the deployment of CISF personnel to monitor confidential areas and ensure strict access controls. The agency is also working on improving its cybersecurity measures and preparing for future examinations. Read on to learn more about these developments and their implications for the examination system in India.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 27, 2026, 16:19 IST

Enhanced Security for National Testing Agency

New Delhi: Following significant controversies surrounding the NEET examination, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has relocated to a new office and will now be under the protection of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to secure its confidential areas, according to officials.

This decision comes after the NEET-UG question paper leak incident earlier this year, which ignited widespread protests among students and resulted in the resignation of the former Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan.

In response to the crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the formation of a high-level task force led by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani to propose reforms aimed at preventing future leaks. The task force has yet to deliver its findings.

A chargesheet from the CBI revealed that three subject experts were identified as the main culprits behind the leak, noting that there were no security checks for these experts when entering or exiting the NTA's confidential sections. This lack of oversight allowed them to smuggle out information on small notes made from rough work sheets.

Established in 2017 under the Ministry of Education, the NTA was previously based in Okhla. Now, it has been allocated a spacious office of over 55,000 square feet in the Government of India Press Building on Minto Road. The confidential operations have been transitioned to this new location over the past month, as confirmed by a senior official.

The CBI's report highlighted that the activities of the accused experts went unnoticed due to the absence of a dedicated CCTV monitoring control room at the NTA's former office.

Regarding security measures at the new site, the official stated, "Confidential areas have been clearly marked, and their operations will be closely monitored to ensure a robust security system is implemented. The Home Ministry has sanctioned CISF protection for the premises."

A total of 39 CISF personnel have been assigned to oversee security, access control, and screening processes, which include the use of X-ray baggage scanners and Door Frame Metal Detectors (DFMDs).

CISF personnel will be strategically positioned at all entry and exit points to regulate access to the confidential areas.

While no educational institution in India currently has CISF security, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), responsible for conducting recruitment exams, is under CISF protection.

A similar NEET paper leak incident in 2024 prompted the establishment of a high-level committee led by former ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan, which made extensive recommendations for improving security measures for examination-critical systems.

However, after another leak in 2026, the Supreme Court criticized the NTA for failing to learn from past mistakes.

The NTA is now implementing strict access controls, encryption standards, and tamper-evident storage for all examination-critical operations.

The agency is also conducting security readiness reviews of all examination-support systems before each exam cycle, coordinating with NTA's technology and test-security functions to ensure comprehensive security measures are in place, including biometric authentication and live monitoring.

Additionally, the NTA is enhancing its cyber-incident response capabilities for examination days, with increased monitoring and rapid-response readiness.

To bolster information security, the NTA has appointed a chief information security officer (CISO), with the recruitment process for this position currently underway. Independent cybersecurity audits are being conducted by CERT-In and C-DAC empanelled agencies.