UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — 15 of 39 posts in NTA are vacant, Centre informs Rajya Sabha

Q1. With reference to the creation of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the arrangement that preceded it, consider the following statements: 1. Before the NTA became operational, entrance examinations such as JEE (Main) and UGC-NET were conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). 2. The NTA was created as a statutory body under a dedicated Act of Parliament, unlike the CBSE. 3. Unlike the CBSE, the NTA was designed to be self-sustained and was given only a one-time seed grant by the government. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Before the NTA became operational, entrance examinations such as JEE (Main) and UGC-NET were conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
  2. The NTA was created as a statutory body under a dedicated Act of Parliament, unlike the CBSE.
  3. Unlike the CBSE, the NTA was designed to be self-sustained and was given only a one-time seed grant by the government.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. Which one of the following most precisely describes the institutional/legal status of the National Testing Agency?

  • A. An autonomous society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860
  • B. A statutory body established under the University Grants Commission Act, 1956
  • C. A constitutional body established under Article 315 of the Constitution of India
  • D. An attached subordinate office under the Department of Personnel and Training

Q3. Which of the following examinations are correctly identified as being conducted by the National Testing Agency (as per its mandate from 2025)? 1. Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination 2. NEET-UG 3. JEE (Main) 4. UGC-NET Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination
  2. NEET-UG
  3. JEE (Main)
  4. UGC-NET
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q4. As per the examination reforms announced for 2025, the redefined mandate of the National Testing Agency was to:

  • A. conduct only recruitment examinations, transferring entrance tests back to the CBSE
  • B. conduct both entrance and recruitment examinations solely in pen-and-paper mode
  • C. conduct only higher-education entrance examinations, discontinuing recruitment examinations
  • D. conduct only postgraduate fellowship examinations, leaving undergraduate entrance to State boards

Q5. The National Testing Agency, whose staffing position was disclosed in a 2026 written reply in the Rajya Sabha, functions under which one of the following?

  • A. Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education
  • B. Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
  • C. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
  • D. Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education

Q6. With reference to the National Testing Agency's staffing position disclosed in the 2026 Rajya Sabha written reply, consider the following statements: 1. All 39 sanctioned posts of the NTA were reported as filled. 2. The 16 additional Director and Joint Director-level posts under the Central Staffing Scheme are filled only through deputation. 3. The NTA functions without any permanent cadre of its own. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. All 39 sanctioned posts of the NTA were reported as filled.
  2. The 16 additional Director and Joint Director-level posts under the Central Staffing Scheme are filled only through deputation.
  3. The NTA functions without any permanent cadre of its own.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. As per the Rajya Sabha's rules on Questions, what is the maximum number of questions that may be listed for oral answers on any one day?

  • A. 20
  • B. 15
  • C. 25
  • D. 175

Q8. Which of the following are correctly identified as devices through which a member can seek information from the government in the Rajya Sabha? 1. Starred Question — reply given orally on the floor of the House 2. Unstarred Question — reply given in writing and laid on the Table 3. Short Notice Question — asked at shorter notice on a matter of urgent public importance 4. Zero Hour — a formal category of question requiring a written ministerial reply Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Starred Question — reply given orally on the floor of the House
  2. Unstarred Question — reply given in writing and laid on the Table
  3. Short Notice Question — asked at shorter notice on a matter of urgent public importance
  4. Zero Hour — a formal category of question requiring a written ministerial reply
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q9. As per the 2026 Rajya Sabha reply on the National Testing Agency's workforce, which of the following are correctly identified as categories of its personnel? 1. About 200 directly-recruited permanent Group-A officers forming NTA's core cadre 2. 73 personnel engaged on a contractual basis 3. 124 personnel engaged through outsourcing 4. 24 regular employees, all drawn on deputation from other institutions Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. About 200 directly-recruited permanent Group-A officers forming NTA's core cadre
  2. 73 personnel engaged on a contractual basis
  3. 124 personnel engaged through outsourcing
  4. 24 regular employees, all drawn on deputation from other institutions
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 3 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q10. The 16 additional Director and Joint Director-level posts associated with the National Testing Agency are filled by deputation under which one of the following mechanisms?

  • A. UPSC direct recruitment through the Civil Services Examination
  • B. The Central Staffing Scheme administered by the Department of Personnel and Training
  • C. The Staff Selection Commission's Combined Graduate Level recruitment
  • D. All India Services cadre allocation by the Ministry of Home Affairs

Q11. Consider the following statements regarding the National Testing Agency and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: 1. The NEP 2020 envisages the NTA offering a high-quality common aptitude test for university entrance. 2. The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) is conducted by the NTA for admission to central universities. 3. The NEP 2020 made the use of NTA's common entrance tests mandatory for all universities. 4. The NTA's common tests are to be held at least twice every year. Which of the statements given above is/are correctly matched?

  1. The NEP 2020 envisages the NTA offering a high-quality common aptitude test for university entrance.
  2. The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) is conducted by the NTA for admission to central universities.
  3. The NEP 2020 made the use of NTA's common entrance tests mandatory for all universities.
  4. The NTA's common tests are to be held at least twice every year.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q12. Among the following bodies — Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), University Grants Commission (UGC), National Testing Agency (NTA), Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) — how many are statutory bodies established by a specific Act of Parliament?

  • A. Only one
  • B. Two
  • C. Three
  • D. Four