The government informed the Rajya Sabha that the National Testing Agency (NTA), which has been processing registrations for over 66 million candidates for exams such as NEET-UG, JEE, and UGC-NET since 2018, currently has only 24 permanent employees against 197 contract and outsourced workers.
The agency has 39 permanent positions filled through temporary appointments, but according to the Ministry of Education data, the actual headcount is 24 people. These include a director general, two deputy secretaries, eight directors at two pay levels, six deputy directors and research fellows, three assistant directors, two assistant directors, and two senior superintendents.
In addition to permanent staff, NTA engages 73 people on contract. This group includes 44 consultants, 17 young specialists, five senior consultants, three advisors, and one senior software developer. Furthermore, 124 people have been brought in via outsourcing, among whom are data analysts, consultants, legal personnel, and support staff.
The Ministry announced the creation of 16 additional senior positions—eight at the director level and eight at the deputy director level. Since 2018, NTA has conducted over 270 examinations.
A recent statement by an engineer from Hyderabad has raised serious questions about whether being in the top twenty percent of the country's highest earners guarantees a comfortable life according to official statistics.
This specialist asserts that despite his high salary, he is unable to purchase even a two-bedroom apartment (2BHK) in a gated community in Hyderabad. He also noted that his income is insufficient to stay long-term in expensive hotels.
According to this individual, official government data significantly diverges from the real situation on the ground due to the flourishing 'parallel black money economy' in the country. In his opinion, this makes homeownership and covering high expenses inaccessible for the average taxpayer.
In a post on the social media platform X, an engineer named Harshvardhan indicated that while official figures place him in the top 2% of the highest earners in the country, reality looks different. He wrote directly: 'I am in the top 2% of the highest paid people in India, yet I cannot buy a 2BHK apartment in a gated community in Hyderabad and cannot stay long in premium hotels.'
Harshvardhan believes that government statistics present an incomplete picture because they do not account for the existence of black money in the country—income hidden from tax authorities. He stated: 'There is a parallel black economy in India where many people earn more than me and never pay taxes.'
To support his point, he cited an example: a 2BHK apartment in his locality costs 2 crore rupees. He questioned: 'Can a person earning a legitimate salary afford such an expensive apartment? Calculate yourself how many years it would take to save up after paying taxes.'
Following the publication of this post, an active discussion began on social media regarding India's tax laws and the constant rise in inflation. One user pointed out that the Tax Department focuses only on existing taxpayers, ignoring 'tax evaders.' This commentator suggested that about 80% of businessmen in India evade taxes, but the government rarely takes steps to bring them into the tax system.
Another participant in the discussion noted that if there were truly such abundance in India, 50,000 luxury cars would not be sold annually. He called for curbing the black circulation of capital, emphasizing that this does not mean instant national enrichment.
The United States announced on Thursday the imposition of new tariffs targeting several countries. The measure was taken due to concerns raised about the existence of forced labor in these nations.
The Labour Laws Enforcement (LLE) group confronted a man, presumed to be the owner of a Shell gas station in Overport. The confrontation took place on Wednesday amid allegations of hiring undocumented foreign nationals and non-compliance with South African labor laws.
A widely circulated video from LLE shows the group approaching the man, stating, 'We will stop you.' He responded, 'You won't stop me,' adding, 'Stop shouting at me.' Tension escalated as members of the crowd approached the man, shouting insults and accusing him of employing foreigners.
One participant was heard saying, 'You are hiring foreigners. Do you think you are above the law?' The man retorted, 'I am not afraid of anyone,' after which the video ended.
The national representative of LLE, Mtobisi Singa, stated that this action is part of an accountability campaign from employers ahead of a march scheduled for Friday. Singa emphasized that the organization's members remain mobilized and committed to demanding compliance with South African labor laws.
One of the issues raised by the organization was the claim that approximately 70% of the staff at the Shell gas station in Overport are foreign nationals, which, according to him, requires inspection by the relevant authorities. LLE calls on the authorities to verify compliance with all applicable labor and immigration laws.
Furthermore, the organization received complaints from workers at this gas station who reported violations of the minimum wage Act for petrol attendants, as well as the presence of illegally employed foreigners at the station.
Singa noted that discussions with the owner were unsuccessful. He stated that the gas station owner was very rude, which prompted the LLE members to speak in that tone. Since the owner provided no explanation, LLE is exercising its right to picket, planning to return to the gas station later this or next week.
He also reported that the organization's campaign focuses on ensuring labor law compliance, and they plan a march the following day to demand accountability and defend workers' rights.
In another video shared by LLE, National Coordinator Musa Mkhlongo speaks with police officers about conducting checks in restaurants for suspected illegal foreign workers. A police officer mentioned a planned operation on Friday at Romans Pizza and Frango's Peri-Peri on Sparks Road.
However, Imtiaz Syed, chairman of the Mayville Police Forum (CPF), disputed LLE's claims regarding the workforce at the Shell gas station. Syed clarified that the station's staff consists of 52 local employees and 10 foreign nationals who are legally in the country with work permits. He stated that LLE interprets the law at its discretion.
Syed also noted that the escalation in the video occurred due to alleged threats made against the business. He stressed that during the CPF meeting, the march was discussed, and the station commander reported that all participants agreed, but no entry was permitted.
