NTA Conducted 270 Exams for 6.6 Crore Candidates Since 2018 With Just 39 Permanent Staff, Centre Tells Rajya Sabha

The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts some of India's largest entrance examinations, has only 39 permanent posts, all filled through deputation, the Central Government informed the Rajya Sabha.

Despite its relatively small permanent workforce, the agency has conducted more than 270 examinations since its establishment in 2018, managing over 6.6 crore candidate registrations across the country.

The details were shared by the Ministry of Education in response to a question raised in Parliament.

Government Shares NTA Staffing Details

Responding to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar said that all 39 sanctioned permanent positions in the NTA are currently occupied through deputation.

These positions include senior administrative and technical roles such as:

• Director General
• Joint Secretaries
• Directors
• Joint Directors
• Research Scientists
• Deputy Directors
• Assistant Directors
• Senior Superintendents

To strengthen the organisation, the government has also approved 16 additional senior-level posts.

NTA Depends on Contractual and Outsourced Workforce

Apart from its permanent cadre, the NTA relies extensively on contractual, outsourced and field-level personnel to conduct examinations across India.

According to the government:

• 73 contractual professionals have been engaged, including consultants, advisors, software developers and young professionals.
• 124 outsourced personnel support functions such as data analysis, legal services, administration and housekeeping.

During examination periods, the agency also deploys a large network of:

• Observers
• City coordinators
• Centre superintendents
• State and district-level coordination committees

These officials work in coordination with state governments, educational institutions, Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas to ensure smooth conduct of examinations.

Scale of NTA Operations

Since its inception in 2018, the National Testing Agency has conducted over 270 examinations, covering more than 6.6 crore registrations.

According to the ministry:

• In 2026 alone, the agency has conducted 12 examinations involving over 65 lakh registrations.

The NTA is responsible for conducting several major national-level entrance examinations, including:

• NEET-UG
• JEE Main
• CUET
• Other recruitment and entrance tests assigned by the government

NEET-UG 2026 Highlights

The government also highlighted the scale of NEET-UG 2026 as an example of the agency's operational capacity.

According to the ministry:

• The examination was conducted on May 3, 2026.
• It was held at 5,432 examination centres.
• The exam covered 565 cities.
• Candidates took the examination in 13 languages.
• Following a re-examination held on June 21, the results were declared on July 16.

NTA's Financial Growth

The Ministry of Education also presented the agency's financial performance in Parliament.

According to official figures:

• 2019–20
  • Income: ₹504.16 crore
  • Expenditure: ₹440.20 crore
• 2023–24
  • Income: ₹1,116.84 crore
  • Expenditure: ₹1,040.95 crore

The increase reflects the growing scale of examinations conducted by the agency over the years.

Lean Workforce, Large Operations

The government noted that many modern examination agencies operate with a relatively small permanent workforce while depending on technology partners, contractual staff and specialised service providers for operational tasks.

This model enables organisations like the NTA to scale resources during examination seasons while maintaining a compact administrative structure throughout the year.

Key Highlights

• NTA has only 39 permanent posts, all filled through deputation.
• The agency has conducted more than 270 examinations since 2018.
• Over 6.6 crore candidate registrations have been handled.
• NTA employs 73 contractual and 124 outsourced personnel in addition to its permanent staff.
• NEET-UG 2026 was conducted at 5,432 centres across 565 cities.
• The agency's income and expenditure have more than doubled since 2019–20.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many permanent employees does the NTA have?

The National Testing Agency has 39 permanent posts, all of which are currently filled through deputation.

How many examinations has the NTA conducted?

Since its establishment in 2018, the agency has conducted over 270 examinations.

How many candidates has the NTA handled?

The government informed Parliament that the NTA has managed more than 6.6 crore candidate registrations.

Does the NTA employ contractual staff?

Yes. Apart from its permanent cadre, the agency employs contractual professionals, outsourced personnel and examination functionaries across the country.

Which major exams does the NTA conduct?

The NTA conducts several national-level examinations, including NEET-UG, JEE Main and CUET, among others.

Why does the NTA have a small permanent workforce?

The government said the agency follows a model that relies on contractual staff, technology partners and field-level personnel to manage large-scale examinations efficiently.