The Ministry of Education has appointed retired Indian Administrative Officer Pradeep Singh Kharola as the new director general of the National Testing Agency. This comes amid the NEET-UG, UGC NET and CSIR UGC NET cancellation and postponement. He has replaced Subodh Kumar Singh, who is a native of Uttar Pradesh. It should be noted that the alleged paper leak matter is yet to be solved. The Ministry has put Singh on compulsory wait in the Department of Personnel and Training.
 
Who is Pradeep Singh Kharola?

Pradeep Singh Kharola, a 1985 batch IAS officer of the Karnataka Cadre, was appointed as the head of Air India in November 2017. He has also served as the managing director of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation. This apart, Kharola also received the coveted National Award for e-governance in 2012. In 2013, he received the Prime Minister’s Outstanding Public Administration Award.
 
Education
 
Kharola pursued Post Graduation in Industrial Engineering from IIT Delhi in 1984. He has also done a Masters in Development Management from the Asian Institute of Management in Manila, Philippines.
 
Official Statement

“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.” the official statement by the government read.