A Parliamentary panel has requested an update from Abhishek Singh, the Director General of the National Testing Agency (NTA), concerning the ongoing investigation into the NEET-UG paper leak. The panel has sought clarity about the measures being implemented to avert such incidents in the future. According to sources, Singh informed the committee that the leak did not originate from the NTA’s system, and that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently probing the matter that resulted in the cancellation of the examination.

The NEET-UG examination has now been rescheduled to take place on June 21. Education Secretary Vineet Joshi was also present at the committee meeting, where members posed questions about the recent paper leak and discussed potential enhancements to the examination process managed by the NTA. This includes inquiries into the computer-based testing framework, its frequency, and other crucial parameters, particularly as NEET-UG transitions to a digital format starting next year.

During a conversation with ANI, Digvijaya Singh, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, stated that the meeting was productive, with contributions from all members. He noted that committee members expressed significant concern regarding the examination issues discussed, although he refrained from sharing specific details about their deliberations.

Concerns About Future Measures and NTA’s Testing Infrastructure

Committee members reportedly raised pointed questions about the NEET-UG paper leak and sought assurance that measures would be put in place to create a more reliable testing mechanism. As part of their review, they examined the progress made regarding the K. Radhakrishnan Committee Report on NTA reforms. Sources indicated that roughly seventy-five per cent of its recommendations have already been implemented, though there are still about twenty-five per cent of vacancies that need to be filled in the organisation.

Officials informed the committee that steps are underway to strengthen the NTA by increasing appointments and further actions will be initiated based on organisational needs. The discussions not only centred around examination reforms but also included the growing impact of Artificial Intelligence on the education sector. Strategies were considered to enhance student employability amid rapid technological developments.

In addition to the NEET-UG discussions, the committee reviewed two key reports: the 379th Report concerning the Action Taken by the Government on the Demands for Grants for 2025-26 from the Ministry of Women and Child Development, and the 380th Report regarding the functioning of the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) in relation to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasises teacher capacity building.

Ongoing Issues and Future Directions for Educational Institutions

The panel also examined significant achievements and the challenges faced by Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) along with the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI). Discussions delved into issues such as financial constraints, the execution of reservations, the need to fill administrative vacancies, and the hurdles involved in implementing the NEP.

Political tensions have escalated amidst ongoing protests surrounding the NEET-UG 2026 examination, which was cancelled on May 12 due to allegations of a coordinated paper leak. Earlier, the exam was conducted on May 3 across more than 551 cities in India and 14 international locations, attracting participation from over twenty-two lakh candidates.

In response to the controversy, the Union Education Ministry has ordered enhanced security measures for the upcoming re-examination planned for June 21, aiming to ensure the integrity of the testing process.

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