The Union government informed Parliament that 15 out of 39 permanent positions in the National Testing Agency (NTA) are currently vacant.The education ministry revealed that 73 individuals, including 44 consultants, have been appointed on contractual basis while over 120 roles such as data analysts and legal support have been outsourced.This update came in response to questions from an Opposition member amid criticism over alleged irregularities in competitive exams.Youth protesters in Delhi and other cities are demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.The NTA has conducted 12 exams so far in 2026, including NEET for medical admissions and CUET, with 65 lakh candidates registering.In FY23-24, the agency reported income of Rs 1,116 crore and expenditure of Rs 1,040 crore.The data highlights systemic challenges in staffing and governance within the NTA, raising concerns about exam conduct transparency.