New Delhi : Amid mounting scrutiny over the NEET-UG 2026-27 examination controversy, the National Testing Agency (NTA) received four senior-level appointments on Saturday after the medical entrance test was scrapped over allegations of a question paper leak.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet cleared the induction of two Joint Secretaries and two Joint Directors in the testing body functioning under the Department of Higher Education, according to CNN-News18.
Two new Joint Secretaries
According to official details, Anuja Bapat from the Integrated Defence Staff, a 1998-batch officer, was named Joint Secretary after a vacant Deputy Secretary/Director position was elevated temporarily. Authorities said the upgraded post would remain in place initially for two years.
Ruchita Vij, a 2004-batch Indian Revenue Service officer, was also selected as Joint Secretary. Her assignment has been approved for a five-year term through the temporary elevation of an unoccupied Deputy Secretary/Director-level position for an initial two-year period.
Appointments at Joint Director level
The ACC additionally sanctioned two appointments at Joint Director rank within the agency.
Akash Jain, an IRS officer from the 2013 batch, was shifted to the NTA on a “lateral shift” basis under the Central Staffing Scheme. His tenure will continue until December 4, 2029, at Deputy Secretary level.
Aditya Rajendra Bhojgadhiya, a 2013-batch Indian Audit and Accounts Service officer, was similarly moved under the Central Staffing Scheme on a ‘lateral shift’ basis. Officials said his term will run until May 16, 2028.
CBI probe into leak allegations
The staffing overhaul follows criticism directed at the examination agency after NEET-UG was cancelled over accusations that the test paper had been circulated in several states before the examination.
Investigators have alleged that the suspected racket began in Pune, where the paper was reportedly sold first to Nashik-based Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery student Shubham Khairnar. The inquiry was later handed over to the CBI by the Centre after initially being handled by local investigators.
The CBI has already detained several accused connected to Pune. Earlier on Saturday, the agency arrested Pune-based Botany teacher Manisha Gurunath Mandhare in Delhi in the case.
