UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — NTA reforms should have continuity: SC
Q1. In its August 2026 order in the NEET/NTA reforms matter, the Supreme Court required the examination authority to develop and retain "institutional memory". As used by the Court, this expression refers to which one of the following?
- A. A statutory duty on the examination authority to preserve question papers, OMR sheets and answer keys of every past cycle for a prescribed retention period
- B. The practice of appointing retired officers of the examination authority as members of the expert committees that review its functioning
- C. The authority's capacity to act on the experience, data and information accumulated in each examination cycle, undisturbed by transfers of officers
- D. A centralised digital repository of candidate biometric and performance records maintained across all examinations conducted by the authority
Q2. With reference to the directions issued by the Supreme Court in August 2026 while hearing the NEET examination reforms matter, consider the following:
1. Creation of permanent in-house infrastructure for examination cybersecurity.
2. Complete and permanent transfer of all examinations presently conducted by the NTA to the Union Public Service Commission.
3. Development of research and development capability within the examination authority.
4. A binding direction that every public examination in the country be conducted exclusively in computer-based mode from the next cycle.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as areas on which the Court sought the Centre's roadmap?
- Creation of permanent in-house infrastructure for examination cybersecurity.
- Complete and permanent transfer of all examinations presently conducted by the NTA to the Union Public Service Commission.
- Development of research and development capability within the examination authority.
- A binding direction that every public examination in the country be conducted exclusively in computer-based mode from the next cycle.
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 1 and 3
- C. 2 and 4
- D. 3 and 4
Q3. Among the examination and recruitment bodies whose examinations are covered by the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which one is the oldest, having begun its centenary year celebrations in October 2025?
- A. The Staff Selection Commission, which conducts recruitment examinations for Group B and Group C posts
- B. The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, which conducts common recruitment tests for public sector banks
- C. The Union Public Service Commission, which conducts the Civil Services Examination and defence services examinations
- D. The Railway Recruitment Boards, which conduct recruitment examinations for the Indian Railways
Q4. Consider the following statements comparing the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the National Testing Agency (NTA):
1. The UPSC is a constitutional authority whose Chairman and Members are appointed by the President, whereas the NTA is a body registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
2. The NTA was created by an Act of Parliament in 2017 and functions under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
3. Examinations conducted by both the UPSC and the NTA fall within the ambit of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The UPSC is a constitutional authority whose Chairman and Members are appointed by the President, whereas the NTA is a body registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
- The NTA was created by an Act of Parliament in 2017 and functions under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
- Examinations conducted by both the UPSC and the NTA fall within the ambit of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q5. The implementation of the recommendations made by the 2024 High-Level Committee of Experts on examination reform is monitored by which one of the following?
- A. A High Powered Steering Committee chaired by Dr K. Radhakrishnan
- B. The Governing Body of the National Testing Agency, chaired by the Union Minister of Education
- C. A standing committee of the University Grants Commission on national entrance examinations
- D. The high-powered task force on examination reform headed by Shri Nandan Nilekani
Q6. The 'DIGI-EXAM' system proposed by the High-Level Committee of Experts on examination reform (2024) refers to which one of the following?
- A. Aadhaar-based or biometric verification of candidates with authentication at multiple stages, coupled with encrypted transmission of question papers
- B. A national digital repository in which question papers and answer keys of every past cycle are released to candidates after each examination
- C. An online portal for filing grievances and applications for re-evaluation of results declared by the examination authority
- D. A framework for shifting all examinations to government-owned centres fitted with signal jammers and closed-circuit surveillance
Q7. Under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill passed by Parliament in July 2026, the maximum period for which a service provider found involved in an offence may be debarred from conducting any public examination was raised to how long?
- A. Four years
- B. Six years
- C. Eight years
- D. Permanent debarment, with no fixed outer limit
Q8. The National Testing Agency functions under the administrative control of which one of the following?
- A. The Department of Personnel and Training under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
- B. The University Grants Commission under the Ministry of Education
- C. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
- D. The Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education
Q9. Which one of the following was the first examination conducted by the National Testing Agency after it became operational?
- A. Joint Entrance Examination (Main), in January 2019
- B. National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (UG), in May 2019
- C. UGC National Eligibility Test, in December 2018
- D. Common University Entrance Test (UG), in July 2022
Q10. Consider the following statements about the high-powered task force on examination reform announced in July 2026 and the High-Level Committee of Experts of 2024:
1. The 2026 task force is headed by Shri Nandan Nilekani, whereas the 2024 committee was chaired by a former Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation.
2. The 2026 task force has been mandated to submit its recommendations within three months, while the 2024 committee submitted its report in October 2024.
3. Unlike the 2024 committee, which was constituted by the Supreme Court while hearing the NEET-UG petitions, the 2026 task force was constituted by the Union Ministry of Education.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The 2026 task force is headed by Shri Nandan Nilekani, whereas the 2024 committee was chaired by a former Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation.
- The 2026 task force has been mandated to submit its recommendations within three months, while the 2024 committee submitted its report in October 2024.
- Unlike the 2024 committee, which was constituted by the Supreme Court while hearing the NEET-UG petitions, the 2026 task force was constituted by the Union Ministry of Education.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q11. The NEET (UG) examination of 2024, whose conduct triggered the litigation now before the Supreme Court, was held in how many languages?