New Delhi: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has terminated 47 officials and initiated steps for legal and criminal action against some in connection with the NEET paper leak controversy, officials said on Friday.

“The NTA is set to undergo an overhaul and more reformative actions will follow. At least 47 officials have been terminated, and legal and criminal action will be initiated against some of them,” a senior official said.

The action comes amid wider administrative changes, including the transfer of higher education secretary Vineet Joshi to the panchayati raj ministry.

The developments follow public protests over alleged paper leaks and issues related to CBSE digital evaluation, with demonstrations reported at Jantar Mantar and Opposition parties seeking the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The NTA has initiated fresh recruitment, issuing advertisements for posts at the level of General Manager and opening applications for 16 Young Professionals through the Union Public Service Commission’s Pratibha Setu portal.

“Further recruitment and empanelment actions across the ten functional verticals recommended by the High-Level Committee of Experts will follow in the coming weeks.

“The measures notified today, together with the Expression of Interest for a fresh empanelment of Subject Matter Experts and Translators issued separately, are part of a systematic strengthening of the academic, operational, technological and integrity capabilities of the NTA,” the official said.