Who Is Pradeep Singh Kharola, IAS Officer And New NTA Chief Amid NEET-UG Paper Leak Scandal

New Chief Of National Testing Agency (NTA): The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test- Undergraduate (NEET-UG) Examination 2024 held earlier this month has been in the news for the alleged paper leak controversy. Constant criticism and backlash is being faced by the National Testing Agency (NTA) which had organised the examination; apart from NEET-UG, the UGC-NET Exam has also been cancelled and the NEET-PG has been postponed. Amid all this, the Director General of the National Testing Agency, Subodh Kumar Singh has been removed from his position and IAS officer Pradeep Singh Kharola has taken his place. Know all about Pradeep Singh Kharola, new NTA Chief…
Subodh Kumar Replaced By Pradeep Singh Kharola As NTA Chief
As mentioned earlier, the Director General of the National Testing Agency (NTA), Subodh Kumar Singh has been replaced by Pradeep Singh Kharola. In an official statement, the government said, “The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the following: Assignment of additional charge of the post of Director General, National Testing Agency, Ministry of Education to Shri Pradeep Singh Kharola. IAS (KN:85) (Retd), Chairman and Managing Director, India Trade Promotion Organisation till the appointment of a regular incumbent or until further orders, whichever is earlier.”
Who Is Pradeep Singh Kharola?
The new NTA Director General, Pradeep Singh Kharola is an IAS officer of the 1985-batch and belongs to the Karnataka cadre. Speaking of his educational qualifications, details about his schooling are not available but he did his graduation in 1982 from the Indore University; he has a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Pradeep Singh Kharola did his postgraduation in Industrial Engineering from IIT Delhi; he has also done a Masters in Development Management from Asian Institute of Management in Manila, Philippines.
Pradeep Singh Kharola has served as the Joint Secretary of the National Administrative Reform Commission, Chairman and Managing Editor of India Trade Promotion Organisation, Secretary to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation and Director of Union Ministry of Tourism. Pradeep Singh Kharola has received the National Award for E-Governance and the Prime Minister’s Outstanding Public Administration Award.