Congress cites panel report on NTA incompetence, paper leaks
Parliamentary panel chaired by Mukul Wasnik finds nine leaks since 2017 and urges structural reforms for the testing agency.
KEY POINTS
- Parliamentary panel report on NTA presented October 9, chaired by Mukul Wasnik
- Report follows NEET-UG 2026 cancellation due to paper leaks
- Jairam Ramesh alleges nine paper leaks since 2017, contradicting ministry claim
- Panel recommends CBT-only medical exams, age/attempt limits, district exam centres
- Congress questions NTA's legal status as a society rather than statutory body
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education presented its 382nd report on October 9, chaired by Congress Rajya Sabha member Mukul Wasnik. The report examines the National Testing Agency following the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination due to question paper leaks.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh stated the findings expose "grave incompetence and malpractice" in the NTA and the Ministry of Education. He said the ministry falsely claimed to the committee that no paper leak had occurred in NTA-conducted exams since 2017.
“The Ministry of Education made the blatantly false and audacious claim to the Parliamentary Committee, 'that no paper leak has occurred in an exam conducted by the NTA since its formation in 2017 till 2025'.”
Ramesh asserted there have been nine paper leaks and irregularities in NTA exams. He argued the agency's registration as a society under the 1860 Act leaves it with limited accountability and parliamentary oversight.
The panel recommended shifting medical entrance exams entirely to computer-based testing, setting limits on the maximum age and number of attempts for NEET-UG, and using the NTA's financial surplus to build government-owned exam centres in every district. It also urged strict quarantine measures for question-setters to prevent leaks.
2 more sources below
COMMENTS (0)
No comments yet. Be the first.
RELATED STORIES
French police face probe over serious injuries to students during protests
A 14-year-old suffered a broken jaw and a 15-year-old lost a hand, prompting an investigation into 24 cases of alleged excessive force and the suspension of sting-ball grenades.
Turkey Plans Mandatory ID Checks for Cigarette Sales to Curb Youth Smoking
Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu says a draft law requiring age verification at point of sale will be submitted to parliament within weeks.
Trump Auto-Enrolls 60 Million Children in Investment Accounts
White House says 70 million kids now have Trump Accounts with $4.5 billion deposited since July launch.
- Bolsonaro Leads Lula in Brazil First Round, Runoff Set for Oct 25
- Spain's Snap Election Kills Key Bills on Financing, Housing, Justice
- Nationwide Smuggling Raids Across 54 Provinces Net 294 Suspects
- US Sanctions 17 Iranian Shadow Fleet Tankers, Warns Enablers
- Brazil's First-Round Election Runs Smoothly, TSE Chief Says
This page was compiled with AI assistance from the outlets named above and passed an automated language check before publication. Montegre has no reporters of its own; the byline names the outlets the story was compiled from. Method and editorial standards