The agency has floated a tender estimated at Rs 7.5 crore to hire a security firm for its headquarters at Minto Road, regional office in Okhla and other notified locations. NEW DELHI: After a paper leak exposed weak links in India’s biggest entrance examination, National Testing Agency (NTA) is moving to put its premises, confidential records and examination material under round-the-clock watch. The agency has floated a tender estimated at Rs 7.5 crore to hire a security firm for its headquarters at Minto Road, regional office in Okhla and other notified locations.Issued on July 25, the tender is part of a procurement exercise covering security, housekeeping and examination-grade printing. Together, the bids signal an attempt to tighten controls across the examination chain — from printing and storage to access control and protection of digital infrastructure. The security contract will initially run for two years and may be extended twice by a year each. Bids can be submitted until 3 pm on Aug 17. The printing-services tender closes on Aug 20.The selected agency will watch over NTA employees, visitors, premises, confidential examination material, server rooms, strong rooms, warehouses, record rooms and other sensitive facilities. It will regulate entry and exit, verify staff and visitors, maintain logs and ensure that “only authorised persons enter restricted areas”.The security apparatus will include door-frame and hand-held metal detectors, GPS-enabled guard patrol tracking, biometric attendance and digital incident-reporting systems.NTA has moved away from choosing a bidder mainly on cost basis. Citing the “sensitive nature of NTA’s examination ecosystem and confidentiality requirements”, it has adopted the quality-and-cost based selection model. Technical capability will carry 70% weightage and the financial bid 30%. Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesOnly agencies securing at least 70 marks in the technical assessment will reach the financial round.Bidders must have at least five years’ experience in professional security, an average annual turnover of Rs 10 crore in past three financial years and must have done prior work at high-security establishments such as central govt institutions, examination agencies, universities, airports, hospitals or metro systems.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorManash Pratim GohainManash Pratim Gohain is a seasoned journalist with over two decades at The Times of India, where he has built a rich body of work spanning education policy, politics, and governance. Renowned for his incisive coverage of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation reforms, and skilling initiatives, he has also reported on student politics, urban policy, and social movements. His political reportage—both reflective and news-driven—adds depth to his writing, bridging policy with public impact. Through his 2,500 articles and related outlets, he has emerged as a trusted voice in national discourse, particularly in linking education reform to broader societal change.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Jihad-Producing Factories’: Taslima Nasreen Speaks On Mosques, Madrasas In Bangladesh; Demands UCCON CAM: Clash Erupts At Pappu Yadav’s Delhi Press Meet, Man Carrying Knife Detained‘Mekedatu Dam Is Permanent Solution’: Karnataka CM Shivakumar After All-Party Meet On Cauvery Water’₹18 Crore Stolen Every Year’ At Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak Temple: Raj Thackeray’s Donation Theft Claim‘Enemy Nations Conspiring To Hurt India’: PM Modi During ‘Nasha Mukt Yuva’ Campaign LaunchIndian Navy Launches Final Diving Support Craft, Completes Indigenous Five Ship ProgrammeMother Of Noida Teen Seeks Protection, FIR Withdrawal After PM Modi’s Appeal For Compassion’Why Do Killings Happen When…’: Farooq Abdullah’s Remarks On Kulgam Terror Attack Spark BJP-NC RowRam Temple Skit Row: Rahul Gandhi, Pappu Yadav, Awadhesh Prasad BookedPaper Leak Law Passed, But Can Tougher Punishment Alone Stop India’s Endless Exam Leak Crisis?123PhotostoriesThe return of Madras check: Why this South Indian textile is dominating fashion in 20267 signs you’re confusing loneliness with love (and how to tell the difference)Everyday things most men never think twice about could be quietly damaging sperm health, doctors warnWhich country invented biryani? The fascinating history behind the iconic dishSamantha Ruth Prabhu just gave maternity fashion the glow-up it was waiting forLung cancer isn’t just a smoker’s disease: Doctor explains how air pollution, genetics, and everyday exposures may quietly increase your risk7 incredible hair spa benefits that will actually transform your locksBrain teaser: Only sharp eyes can spot 1 out of 20 giraffes without a twin in 10 seconds in this safari landscapeMenstrual struggles nobody prepares young girls for: Doctor explains the symptoms that shouldn’t be dismissed as ‘part of growing up’7 things worth letting go of before the year comes to an end123Hot PicksHurricane IrmaRuchika SinghRRB Group D Admit CardNEET selective edit windowCommonwealth Games LiveUS work permit feeE20 petrol debateAssam floodsKanwar Yatra 2026Top TrendingMohammad Hamim MondalWeather TomorrowArpita SarkarAbhijeet Dipke Family FinancesPM ModiNoida Woman ArrestAmit ShahKulgam Terror AttackMumbai Building CollapseStock Market Up
NEW DELHI: After a paper leak exposed weak links in India’s biggest entrance examination, National Testing Agency (NTA) is moving to put its premises, confidential records and examination material under round-the-clock watch. The agency has floated a tender estimated at Rs 7.5 crore to hire a security firm for its headquarters at Minto Road, regional office in Okhla and other notified locations.Issued on July 25, the tender is part of a procurement exercise covering security, housekeeping and examination-grade printing. Together, the bids signal an attempt to tighten controls across the examination chain — from printing and storage to access control and protection of digital infrastructure. The security contract will initially run for two years and may be extended twice by a year each. Bids can be submitted until 3 pm on Aug 17. The printing-services tender closes on Aug 20.The selected agency will watch over NTA employees, visitors, premises, confidential examination material, server rooms, strong rooms, warehouses, record rooms and other sensitive facilities. It will regulate entry and exit, verify staff and visitors, maintain logs and ensure that “only authorised persons enter restricted areas”.The security apparatus will include door-frame and hand-held metal detectors, GPS-enabled guard patrol tracking, biometric attendance and digital incident-reporting systems.NTA has moved away from choosing a bidder mainly on cost basis. Citing the “sensitive nature of NTA’s examination ecosystem and confidentiality requirements”, it has adopted the quality-and-cost based selection model. Technical capability will carry 70% weightage and the financial bid 30%.
Share your thoughts in the comments
Be respectful · TOI community guidelines
Only agencies securing at least 70 marks in the technical assessment will reach the financial round.Bidders must have at least five years’ experience in professional security, an average annual turnover of Rs 10 crore in past three financial years and must have done prior work at high-security establishments such as central govt institutions, examination agencies, universities, airports, hospitals or metro systems.
