A CBI investigation uncovered that several NTA‑empanelled SMEs, who had early access to the NEET‑UG question bank, were supplying confidential material to commercial coaching networks, prompting the agency to dismiss up to 600 of them in a sweeping overhaul.

Students who sat for exams such as NEET‑UG and UGC‑NET had previously complained about recurring flaws in question drafting, multiple‑correct‑option items, incorrect answer keys and poor translations that disadvantaged non‑English candidates, raising doubts about the competence of the question‑setting panel.

Court hearings and further CBI inquiries highlighted that many of the dismissed experts relied on standard coaching test‑series questions and lacked originality, while their ties to test‑prep platforms and coaching classes were found to be either direct or indirect.

The probe also revealed systemic weaknesses in NTA’s empanelment process, notably the absence of a cooling‑off period between an expert’s departure from a private coaching firm and their appointment by the agency, allowing potential conflicts of interest to go unchecked.

In response, NTA issued a fresh call for SME applications, setting a deadline of 9 October. Applicants will undergo a four‑stage vetting: verification of identity and credentials plus a no‑objection certificate from the current employer; academic and expert screening to assess research and question‑setting experience; integrity checks to confirm independence from commercial coaching ties; and finally, a three‑year empanelment contingent on signing non‑disclosure agreements and a legal undertaking that any breach will attract criminal liability.

The agency also stipulated that, for two years after their last NTA assignment, empanelled SMEs must not hold any commercial connections with coaching institutions. Additionally, all question papers prepared by the vetted SMEs will be subjected to four levels of review to catch factual errors and translation issues before release.

The new measures come after two high‑profile NEET‑UG paper leaks in 2024 and 2026 that tarnished NTA’s reputation, and officials acknowledge that onboarding up to 600 new experts at once will be a formidable challenge.

Observers note that while the revamped vetting framework appears comprehensive on paper, its effectiveness will depend on rigorous enforcement and continuous monitoring to prevent a repeat of past compromises.