India's education ministry has ordered the National Testing Agency (NTA) to conduct an audit of its examination process, following a fresh wave of criticism over botched entrance exams. The NTA was forced to cancel three major entrance exams due to substantial errors in the question papers, including factual mistakes, translation errors, misspelled names of key figures, and repeated questions from previous years.

The agency announced that students would have to retake the exams in September. This latest controversy comes on the heels of a May scandal involving a leaked medical entrance exam paper, which sparked nationwide protests in July and led to the resignation of former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Opposition leaders and prominent student bodies have criticized the NTA for its repeated failures and renewed calls for the agency to be dissolved. In response, the NTA has sacked additional staff members and begun reviewing internal processes and protocols to ensure future examinations are error-free.

On Monday, newly appointed Education Minister Pralhad Joshi was informed that more than 50 staff members have been removed from the NTA. The ministry stated that Joshi directed strict compliance with established exam protocols and a complete overhaul of confidential operations, including secluded rooms, air-gapped systems, and device-deposit protocols.

Meanwhile, in the eastern state of Jharkhand, student protesters have proclaimed victory after the state canceled key recruitment exams over alleged irregularities. However, a new protest has emerged, led by those who were already in the recruitment process. Additionally, a national seafarers' union reported that Indian sailors on board a commercial vessel were being pressured to sail through the Strait of Hormuz despite dangers from the ongoing conflict.

Source: www.dw.com