2 hrs ago
Congress Says Panel Report Exposes NTA Failings, Urges Reforms
A parliamentary committee studied how India’s National Testing Agency runs important exams.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the report shows serious problems at the agency and the Education Ministry.
He disputed the ministry’s reported statement that no NTA exam papers leaked from 2017 to 2025, and cited nine known leaks or irregularities.
Ramesh also said the agency has too few staff and relies heavily on private companies.
The committee wants Parliament to have a formal way to oversee the NTA.
It also suggested changes such as computer-based medical entrance exams and more government-run exam centres.
The committee said the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 showed that more improvements are needed.
These claims and criticisms were reported from the committee report and Congress statements.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said a parliamentary report details serious shortcomings at the National Testing Agency and the Ministry of Education.
Ramesh disputed the ministry’s reported claim that no NTA exam paper leaks occurred from 2017 to 2025, citing nine known leaks or irregularities.
He criticized the NTA’s staffing and structure, saying only 23 of 39 sanctioned posts were filled and all permanent posts were staffed through short-term deputations.
The committee called for a parliamentary framework to make the NTA accountable to both Houses; its recommendations also included computer-based medical entrance exams and government-owned exam centres in every district.
The panel said the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 showed further improvement was needed; the exam was cancelled on May 12 after being held on May 3 amid leak allegations.
- Who
- The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, chaired by Rajya Sabha MP Mukul Wasnik, and Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.
- What
- The committee examined the National Testing Agency and recommended stronger parliamentary accountability and other reforms; Congress criticized the agency and the Ministry of Education.
- Where
- New Delhi, India.
- When
- The report was presented on October 9 and discussed by Congress on October 11; NEET-UG 2026 was held on May 3 and cancelled on May 12.
- Why
- The committee examined the NTA following the NEET-UG 2026 cancellation amid paper-leak allegations and concerns about trust in its examinations.
Congress’s criticism
Committee and ministry positions reported
Whether NTA exams had paper leaks
Congress’s criticism
Ramesh called the ministry’s reported claim that no NTA exam paper leaked from 2017 to 2025 false and cited nine known leaks or irregularities.
Committee and ministry positions reported
The ministry reportedly told the committee that no paper leak had occurred in an NTA exam from the agency’s formation in 2017 through 2025.
NTA accountability and capacity
Congress’s criticism
Ramesh argued that the NTA’s non-statutory status, limited staffing, reliance on contractors and lack of full-time leadership weaken accountability and institutional expertise.
Committee and ministry positions reported
The committee called for a parliamentary framework to ensure accountability to both Houses and identified further improvements as necessary; the articles do not report a direct government response to Ramesh’s criticism.
Use of the NTA’s surplus
Congress’s criticism
Ramesh said the reported Rs 590 crore surplus was placed in fixed deposits rather than used to improve exam infrastructure or assist students.
Committee and ministry positions reported
The articles report the committee’s recommendation to use the NTA’s financial surplus to establish government-owned examination centres in every district.
Key facts
- Report
- “Reforms and Strengthening of the National Testing Agency (NTA),” the committee’s 382nd report.
- Committee chair
- Mukul Wasnik, a Congress Rajya Sabha member.
- NTA staffing
- 39 sanctioned positions; 23 officers in position, according to Ramesh.
- Alleged exam irregularities
- Ramesh cited nine known paper leaks or irregularities in NTA-conducted exams.
- Reported financial surplus
- Ramesh said the NTA had a revenue surplus of Rs 590 crore invested in fixed deposits.
- Committee recommendation
- Introduce an appropriate parliamentary framework to ensure the NTA is accountable to Parliament.
- NEET-UG 2026
- Held on May 3 and cancelled on May 12 amid paper-leak allegations, according to the articles.
Quotes
Jairam Ramesh
Congress general secretary in charge of communications
“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’. There have been 9 paper leaks and irregularities in NTA conducted exams that we know of. What hope is there for a fair investigation or accountability when the Ministry even refuses to acknowledge what went wrong in the first place?”
thehansindia.com
“At a time when the NTA was already tackling multiple paper leaks and was supposed to implement the reforms proposed by the K Radhakrishnan Committee, the Modi Government failed to even appoint a full-time officer to lead the agency.”
thehansindia.com
Parliamentary Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports
Parliamentary committee examining the National Testing Agency
“The education department may introduce appropriate Parliamentary framework that ensures NTA’s accountability to Parliament.”
theprint.in
Sources
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