A parliamentary standing committee on Thursday sought an update from National Testing Agency (NTA) director general Abhishek Singh on the ongoing investigation into the NEET-UG paper leak, weeks after the examination was embroiled in controversy. The committee also questioned officials about measures being implemented to prevent such incidents in the future.
NTA Chief Denies System Breach
According to sources from news agency ANI, Singh informed the panel that the leak did not occur from the NTA's system. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently probing the leak of questions that led to the cancellation of the examination. The re-examination is now scheduled for June 21.
Background of the Controversy
The NEET-UG examination, originally held on May 4, was canceled by the NTA following allegations of a paper leak. The exam was conducted on May 3 across 551 cities in India and 14 other countries, with over 22 lakh candidates appearing.
Concerns Over Examination Process
Education secretary Vineet Joshi also appeared before the committee, where members raised concerns about the robustness of the NTA's examination process. This is particularly pertinent as NEET-UG is set to transition to a computer-based format from next year. Questions were asked about the required infrastructure, exam frequency, duration, and safeguards needed for one of India's largest entrance tests.
Committee Chairman's Remarks
Speaking to ANI after the meeting, Digvijaya Singh, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on education, women, children, youth and sports, stated that the meeting went very well and inputs were received from all members. He noted that all members are very concerned about the issues discussed, including the NTA examination process, but declined to provide further details at this stage. When asked about the next meeting or when findings would be presented, Singh replied that it depends and added, let us see.
Sharp Questions and Demands for Clarity
Sources indicated that committee members raised sharp questions over the NEET-UG paper leak and demanded clarity on measures being adopted to make the NTA's testing mechanism foolproof. The panel also reviewed the implementation of the K Radhakrishnan Committee recommendations on NTA reforms. Officials informed members that nearly 75 percent of the recommendations have already been implemented.
NTA Vacancies and Strengthening Efforts
The committee was also informed that the NTA is currently facing around 25 percent vacancies. Steps are underway to strengthen the organization through fresh appointments and structural improvements.
Focus on AI and Employability
Beyond examination reforms, the meeting also focused on the growing impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the education sector and strategies to improve student employability amid rapid technological change.
Reports and Discussions
The panel discussed two key reports: the 379th Report on Action Taken regarding the Demands for Grants 2025-26 of the ministry of women and child development, and the 380th Report on the functioning of the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 framework.
According to sources, discussions also covered the major achievements and challenges faced by Aligarh Muslim University and the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions, including issues related to financial constraints, reservation implementation, administrative vacancies, and NEP rollout challenges.
Political Tensions and Security Measures
Political tensions have continued to rise over NEET-UG, which was canceled on May 12 following allegations of a coordinated paper leak. The Union education ministry has since ordered tighter security measures for the June 21 re-examination.
