After NEET row, NTA floats Rs 7.5-crore tender for 24x7 security of exam papers
Following the NEET-UG paper leak controversy, the NTA has launched a comprehensive overhaul of its operations with fresh tenders for security, housekeeping and secure printing, alongside stricter standards for agencies handling sensitive examination infrastructure.
In a major step to tighten the security of its examination ecosystem following the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has issued a tender worth approximately Rs 7.5 crore to appoint a professional agency for 24x7 security services across its headquarters, regional offices and other sensitive locations. The NTA has also invited bids for housekeeping and secure printing services as part of broader measures to strengthen the integrity of its examination system.
According to the July 25 tender, the selected agency will provide security at the NTA headquarters on Delhi's Minto Road, its Okhla regional office and other notified locations, as reported by Hindustan Times. It will be responsible for safeguarding personnel, visitors, confidential examination materials, server rooms, strong rooms, warehouses, record rooms and other sensitive facilities.
The proposed contract will run for an initial period of two years, with provisions for two one-year extensions based on satisfactory performance. Interested agencies can submit their bids until 3 pm on August 17, while the technical bids are scheduled to be opened later the same day.
NTA ANNOUNCES MULTIPLE TENDERS
Highlighting the broader procurement exercise, NTA also announced on its official social media handles that it has floated separate tenders for housekeeping services, security services and examination-grade printing services through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM).
According to the announcement, the security and housekeeping tenders for its Delhi office close on August 17, while the printing services tender has a bid submission deadline of August 20.
QUALITY TAKES PRIORITY
Breaking away from the conventional lowest-bid procurement model followed by many government departments, the NTA has chosen the Quality-and-Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method for the contract, emphasising that safeguarding the country's examination infrastructure requires greater weight to be given to technical capability.
Under this framework, technical proposals will determine 70% of the final score, while commercial bids will contribute the remaining 30%. Agencies failing to secure at least 70 marks in the technical assessment will not be considered for the financial evaluation.
The eligibility criteria require applicants to have a minimum of five years' experience in the security sector, an average annual turnover of Rs 10 crore during the previous three financial years, and experience handling protection services for central government institutions or other high-security establishments, including examination bodies, universities, airports, hospitals and metro networks.
The contract is estimated to be worth around Rs 7.5 crore, excluding GST. Interested bidders must also furnish an earnest money deposit of Rs 15 lakh and, if selected, provide performance security equivalent to 5% of the total contract value.
ENHANCED SECURITY WITH TECH-LED MONITORING
The agency awarded the contract will be responsible for controlling access to NTA premises by verifying the identity of staff and visitors, restricting entry to authorised personnel and maintaining detailed visitor logs. Security checks at designated points will include the use of door-frame and hand-held metal detectors.
Its responsibilities will also extend to safeguarding confidential examination materials, server rooms, digital infrastructure and secure storage facilities. The tender further mandates the deployment of technology-driven monitoring systems, including GPS-enabled guard patrol tracking, biometric attendance and digital incident-reporting platforms.
The tender also places strong emphasis on confidentiality. The selected service provider and its personnel will be required to protect all information related to examination processes, security protocols and IT infrastructure, with these obligations remaining in force even after the contract expires.
FROM PAPER LEAK TO SECURITY OVERHAUL
The NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, one of the biggest crises faced by the NTA, led to the cancellation of the May 3 examination and a re-test on June 21.
The episode also accelerated efforts to strengthen the country's examination system, with Parliament later passing the Anti-Paper Leak Bill. Welcoming the legislation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it as a major reform to curb paper leaks and vowed strict action against those involved in such rackets.
Against this backdrop, the NTA's latest tenders for security, housekeeping and examination-grade printing reflect a broader effort to reinforce every stage of the examination process, from secure printing and storage to access control and surveillance, and rebuild public confidence in the integrity of high-stakes entrance examinations.
In a major step to tighten the security of its examination ecosystem following the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has issued a tender worth approximately Rs 7.5 crore to appoint a professional agency for 24x7 security services across its headquarters, regional offices and other sensitive locations. The NTA has also invited bids for housekeeping and secure printing services as part of broader measures to strengthen the integrity of its examination system.
According to the July 25 tender, the selected agency will provide security at the NTA headquarters on Delhi's Minto Road, its Okhla regional office and other notified locations, as reported by Hindustan Times. It will be responsible for safeguarding personnel, visitors, confidential examination materials, server rooms, strong rooms, warehouses, record rooms and other sensitive facilities.
The proposed contract will run for an initial period of two years, with provisions for two one-year extensions based on satisfactory performance. Interested agencies can submit their bids until 3 pm on August 17, while the technical bids are scheduled to be opened later the same day.
NTA ANNOUNCES MULTIPLE TENDERS
Highlighting the broader procurement exercise, NTA also announced on its official social media handles that it has floated separate tenders for housekeeping services, security services and examination-grade printing services through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM).
According to the announcement, the security and housekeeping tenders for its Delhi office close on August 17, while the printing services tender has a bid submission deadline of August 20.
QUALITY TAKES PRIORITY
Breaking away from the conventional lowest-bid procurement model followed by many government departments, the NTA has chosen the Quality-and-Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method for the contract, emphasising that safeguarding the country's examination infrastructure requires greater weight to be given to technical capability.
Under this framework, technical proposals will determine 70% of the final score, while commercial bids will contribute the remaining 30%. Agencies failing to secure at least 70 marks in the technical assessment will not be considered for the financial evaluation.
The eligibility criteria require applicants to have a minimum of five years' experience in the security sector, an average annual turnover of Rs 10 crore during the previous three financial years, and experience handling protection services for central government institutions or other high-security establishments, including examination bodies, universities, airports, hospitals and metro networks.
The contract is estimated to be worth around Rs 7.5 crore, excluding GST. Interested bidders must also furnish an earnest money deposit of Rs 15 lakh and, if selected, provide performance security equivalent to 5% of the total contract value.
ENHANCED SECURITY WITH TECH-LED MONITORING
The agency awarded the contract will be responsible for controlling access to NTA premises by verifying the identity of staff and visitors, restricting entry to authorised personnel and maintaining detailed visitor logs. Security checks at designated points will include the use of door-frame and hand-held metal detectors.
Its responsibilities will also extend to safeguarding confidential examination materials, server rooms, digital infrastructure and secure storage facilities. The tender further mandates the deployment of technology-driven monitoring systems, including GPS-enabled guard patrol tracking, biometric attendance and digital incident-reporting platforms.
The tender also places strong emphasis on confidentiality. The selected service provider and its personnel will be required to protect all information related to examination processes, security protocols and IT infrastructure, with these obligations remaining in force even after the contract expires.
FROM PAPER LEAK TO SECURITY OVERHAUL
The NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, one of the biggest crises faced by the NTA, led to the cancellation of the May 3 examination and a re-test on June 21.
The episode also accelerated efforts to strengthen the country's examination system, with Parliament later passing the Anti-Paper Leak Bill. Welcoming the legislation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it as a major reform to curb paper leaks and vowed strict action against those involved in such rackets.
Against this backdrop, the NTA's latest tenders for security, housekeeping and examination-grade printing reflect a broader effort to reinforce every stage of the examination process, from secure printing and storage to access control and surveillance, and rebuild public confidence in the integrity of high-stakes entrance examinations.
In a major step to tighten the security of its examination ecosystem following the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has issued a tender worth approximately Rs 7.5 crore to appoint a professional agency for 24x7 security services across its headquarters, regional offices and other sensitive locations. The NTA has also invited bids for housekeeping and secure printing services as part of broader measures to strengthen the integrity of its examination system.
According to the July 25 tender, the selected agency will provide security at the NTA headquarters on Delhi's Minto Road, its Okhla regional office and other notified locations, as reported by Hindustan Times. It will be responsible for safeguarding personnel, visitors, confidential examination materials, server rooms, strong rooms, warehouses, record rooms and other sensitive facilities.
The proposed contract will run for an initial period of two years, with provisions for two one-year extensions based on satisfactory performance. Interested agencies can submit their bids until 3 pm on August 17, while the technical bids are scheduled to be opened later the same day.
NTA ANNOUNCES MULTIPLE TENDERS
Highlighting the broader procurement exercise, NTA also announced on its official social media handles that it has floated separate tenders for housekeeping services, security services and examination-grade printing services through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM).
According to the announcement, the security and housekeeping tenders for its Delhi office close on August 17, while the printing services tender has a bid submission deadline of August 20.
QUALITY TAKES PRIORITY
Breaking away from the conventional lowest-bid procurement model followed by many government departments, the NTA has chosen the Quality-and-Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method for the contract, emphasising that safeguarding the country's examination infrastructure requires greater weight to be given to technical capability.
Under this framework, technical proposals will determine 70% of the final score, while commercial bids will contribute the remaining 30%. Agencies failing to secure at least 70 marks in the technical assessment will not be considered for the financial evaluation.
The eligibility criteria require applicants to have a minimum of five years' experience in the security sector, an average annual turnover of Rs 10 crore during the previous three financial years, and experience handling protection services for central government institutions or other high-security establishments, including examination bodies, universities, airports, hospitals and metro networks.
The contract is estimated to be worth around Rs 7.5 crore, excluding GST. Interested bidders must also furnish an earnest money deposit of Rs 15 lakh and, if selected, provide performance security equivalent to 5% of the total contract value.
ENHANCED SECURITY WITH TECH-LED MONITORING
The agency awarded the contract will be responsible for controlling access to NTA premises by verifying the identity of staff and visitors, restricting entry to authorised personnel and maintaining detailed visitor logs. Security checks at designated points will include the use of door-frame and hand-held metal detectors.
Its responsibilities will also extend to safeguarding confidential examination materials, server rooms, digital infrastructure and secure storage facilities. The tender further mandates the deployment of technology-driven monitoring systems, including GPS-enabled guard patrol tracking, biometric attendance and digital incident-reporting platforms.
The tender also places strong emphasis on confidentiality. The selected service provider and its personnel will be required to protect all information related to examination processes, security protocols and IT infrastructure, with these obligations remaining in force even after the contract expires.
FROM PAPER LEAK TO SECURITY OVERHAUL
The NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, one of the biggest crises faced by the NTA, led to the cancellation of the May 3 examination and a re-test on June 21.
The episode also accelerated efforts to strengthen the country's examination system, with Parliament later passing the Anti-Paper Leak Bill. Welcoming the legislation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it as a major reform to curb paper leaks and vowed strict action against those involved in such rackets.
Against this backdrop, the NTA's latest tenders for security, housekeeping and examination-grade printing reflect a broader effort to reinforce every stage of the examination process, from secure printing and storage to access control and surveillance, and rebuild public confidence in the integrity of high-stakes entrance examinations.
