Parliamentary panel asks NTA to explore IIT-JEE norms for NEET-UG

New Delhi: A parliamentary panel has raised doubts about the necessity of an exam conducting body like the National Testing Agency (NTA) if major examinations such as NEET-UG continue to face paper leak issues, and has also examined the possibility of adopting a computer-based test system similar to IIT-JEE, the national engineering entrance exam.

The panel, headed by AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP M Thambidurai, asked the NTA how it was fulfilling its purpose, especially when the body had faced a spate of complaints in consecutive years. In 2024 too, the conduct of the NEET-UG examination was embroiled in allegations of paper leaks, which were denied by the NTA. This year’s exam, conducted on May 3, had to be cancelled after the question paper was leaked, and re-exam has been scheduled for June 21.

During the meeting, the panel discussed the possibility of moving to a computer-based entrance examination, much like the IIT-JEE, another high-profile exam conducted by the NTA. The IIT-JEE is a Computer-Based Test (CBT) comprising several multiple-choice questions.

The Committee on Government Assurances on Friday summoned NTA chairperson Pradeep Joshi as well as Director General Abhishek Singh. The committee also summoned Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi, CBI Director Praveen Sood, Health Ministry Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava and National Medical Commission Chairman Abhijat Chandrakant Sheth.

Abhishek Singh, NTA Director General, gave a presentation on the examinations, and panel members told government officials that the schedule for the medical entrance examinations should not be affected and that the number of seats should remain unchanged.

NTA and Education Ministry officials have also been summoned next week by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education to present the government’s stand on the OSM method used by the CBSE and the three-language policy.

Amid mounting Opposition pressure, reports suggest that the Prime Minister’s Office is personally monitoring the conduct of the examinations, which have triggered nationwide outrage and affected the lives of 22 lakh aspirants.

A high-level meeting was held on Thursday involving Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, IT Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and others, during which the possibility of roping in the Indian Air Force to transport question papers to examination centres was explored.