Such experiences have fuelled calls from student activists and opposition politicians to scrap the NTA altogether.
Educationists argue that scrapping the agency would not solve the underlying problem.
The NTA needs deep structural reform to address recurring failures, but abolishing it is not the answer, said M Jagadesh Kumar, former chairman of India’s universities regulator.
“A single national testing body offers common security standards, technology, candidate services and result procedures. Creating many new agencies could duplicate costs and produce uneven safeguards,” he told PTI news agency.
Rao agrees.
“It is not a case of all bad news. The body has conducted several exams successfully, where we did not hear of any leaks,” he said.
What is needed, he argues, is a statutory institution staffed by specialists with the academic, technical and operational expertise to run a secure examination system.
Yet for some experts, the debate ultimately goes beyond the NTA itself.
Aiyar says the bigger issue is not just stopping the next paper leak, but whether a highly centralised testing system can cope with the intense competition for limited educational opportunities.
The NTA may be able to make exams more secure, she says. “But it cannot, at least on its own, change a system in which millions of students compete for a limited number of seats and a single exam can shape their future.”
Some experts say reform must go beyond the NTA itself: India needs an exam system less reliant on one-off, high-stakes tests, gives students multiple chances and can better withstand disruptions.
Rao remains optimistic that the task force led by Nilekani will help plug gaps in the existing system.
But for many students, another committee offers little reassurance unless it produces changes they can actually see.
“I am studying for my university entrance examination next year,” said a 16-year-old Grade 12 student.
“In my head I am prepared that there might be a leak. But what can we do about it? I will prepare and hope for the best.”
