NTA: National Testing Agency

The National Testing Agency (NTA) was created by the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) of Government of India. The agency serves the purpose to conduct entrance examinations for admission into Under Graduate (UG) and Post Graduate (PG) professional and technical programmes. The cabinet gave approval for the establishment of NTA in November 2017. It has been formed to initiate major reforms in the country’s educational system.

The MHRD has formed National Testing Agency (NTA) as a specialist, autonomous and self-sustained testing organization for higher education institutions in the country. To assess competence of candidates for admissions and recruitment has always been a challenge in terms of matching with research based international standards, efficiency, transparency and error free delivery. The NTA is entrusted to address all such issues using best in every field, from test preparation, to test delivery and to test marking.

The Secretary, Department of Higher Education, MHRD is Chairman to NTA. The team of members/ representatives comes from organizations like CBSE, UGC, NCERT, AICTE, and MHRD etc. to facilitate the examination process. The purpose of setting up the NTA lies in ensuring that multiplicity of entrance examination leading to stress on the students is addressed in a comprehensive manner by formulating a uniform entrance examination system for admissions in higher and higher technical education.

Objectives of NTA

To conduct efficient, transparent and international standards tests in order to assess the competency of candidates for admission, and recruitment purposes.
To undertake research on educational, professional and testing systems to identify gaps in the knowledge systems and take steps for bridging them.
To identify experts and institutions in setting examination questions.
To produce and disseminate information and research on education and professional development standards.

NTA Exams

The NTA is administering authority for the following entrance examinations / admission tests / fellowship tests.

Engineering

Joint Entrance Examination

Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) MAIN which was being conducted by CBSE will be conducted by the NTA from 2019 onwards.

JEE Main is applicable for admission to NITs, IIITs and CFTIs participating though Central Seat Allocation Board. However, the students should secure atleast 75% marks in the 12th class examination, or be in the top 20 percentile in the 12th class examination conducted by the respective Boards. For SC/ST candidates the qualifying marks would be 65% in the 12th class examination. Read: JEE Main: Joint Entrance Examination

Medical

NEET

The National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG which was conducted by CBSE will be conducted by the NTA from 2019 onwards. NEET (UG) is applicable for admission to MBBS/BDS Courses in India in Medical/Dental Colleges run with the approval of Medical Council of India/Dental Council of India under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India except for the institutions established through an Act of Parliament i.e. AIIMS and JIPMER Puducherry.

The responsibility of the NTA will limited to the conduct of the entrance examination, declaration of result and providing All India Rank (AIR) to the Directorate General Health Services, Government of India for the conduct of counselling for 15% All India Quota Seats and for supplying the result to state/other Counselling Authorities. Read: NEET-UG: National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test

Management

CMAT

NTA will conduct Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) which is a national level entrance examination for entry into management programmes which was till date being conducted by AICTE. The CMAT is a three hour computer based online test which is conducted in a single session to evaluate the candidate's ability across various segments like Quantitative Technique, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension and General Awareness.

The CMAT score is accepted by all AICTE-Approved Institutions/University Departments/Constituent Colleges/Affiliated Colleges. Read: CMAT: Common Management Admission Test

Pharmacy

GPAT

Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT) is a national level entrance examination for entry into M.Pharm programmes. This was also being conducted by AICTE.

This test facilitates admission of Pharmacy graduates to MPharm program. The GPAT score is accepted by all AICTE Approved Institutions/University Departments/Constituent Colleges/Affiliated Colleges. A few scholarships and other financial assistance in the field of Pharmacy are also given on the basis of the GPAT score. Read: GPAT: Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test

College and University Teaching and Fellowship

UGC NET

On behalf of the UGC, the National Eligibility Test (NET) is conducted for determining the eligibility of Indian nationals for the Eligibility for Assistant Professor only or Junior Research Fellowship & Eligibility for Assistant Professor Both in Indian Universities and Colleges.

From Dec 2018 onwards, the UGC- NET (for Eligibility for Assistant Professor only or Junior Research Fellowship & Eligibility for Assistant Professor both), will be conducted by the NTA. Read: University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET)

NTA Exam Dates

NTA publishes detailed examination calendar time to time. Information is provided through Press releases and publication on official website. Find here latest NTA Examination Date and Time