The National Testing Agency (NTA) is facing allegations that artificial intelligence was extensively used to prepare and translate UGC-NET examination papers, raising concerns over errors in the high-stakes test.
According to a report by The Times of India, subject experts and former NTA officials have linked errors found in three cancelled UGC-NET papers to a lack of proper human review. The NTA has denied using generative AI to create the disputed question papers.
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NTA Director General Abhishek Singh said the papers were reviewed by humans after they were prepared. However, he did not explain how the reported errors were missed during the review process.
Following widespread complaints and a delay of nearly six weeks, the NTA decided to conduct fresh examinations for English, Commerce and Sociology. Experts cited in the report alleged that AI played a major role in preparing the papers. Former NTA subject experts also claimed that AI was used to translate NEET-UG examination papers.
The allegations have raised questions about the use of automation in competitive and other high-stakes examinations. There are also concerns over whether the papers received enough academic review before being used in the exams.
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A senior Education Ministry source said meetings with NTA officials showed that answer keys could not be finalised because the papers had been prepared in an “ad hoc” manner. Questions over why the papers were not properly checked by subject experts have also remained unanswered.
The Sociology paper attracted complaints over misspelt names, unclear terms, poor translations and questions that candidates said were outside the syllabus. Names of well-known sociologists, including George Ritzer, Talcott Parsons and G.S. Ghurye, were reportedly distorted in the paper.
The English paper also faced criticism over repeated questions. Candidates claimed that around 67 of the 150 questions had appeared in an earlier UGC-NET examination. Commerce candidates reported similar issues. They pointed to repeated questions on subjects including taxation, break-even analysis, capital structure and services marketing.
The NTA’s use of technology does not by itself prove that AI caused the errors or repeated questions. However, the allegations have raised concerns about how the papers were prepared and checked before the examination.
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The Education Ministry supported the decision to cancel the three exams and hold fresh tests. However, the NTA waited nearly six weeks before cancelling the papers. During this period, it released provisional answer keys for 84 of the 87 subjects.
The controversy has now put the NTA’s question paper preparation and review process under scrutiny, particularly as technology and AI are increasingly being used in education and examination systems.
Indrani Priyadarshini is a journalist and editorial professional specialising in technology, artificial intelligence, smart cities, green energy, and digital transformation. With over four years of experience in tech journalism and digital media, she is known for turning complex industry developments into clear, engaging, and insightful stories. Her expertise spans reporting, editorial strategy, digital publishing workflows, and in-depth coverage of emerging technologies shaping the future.
