Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Parliamentary Panel Seeks NTA Accountability and Major NEET Reforms
A parliamentary committee reviewed how the National Testing Agency runs exams.
It said the agency should have a clear way to answer to Parliament.
The review followed the cancellation of NEET (UG) 2026 after allegations that the exam paper had leaked.
The committee recommended computer-based tests and more government-run exam centres.
It suggested considering age and attempt limits, as well as two stages for large exams, including NEET.
It also wants a large collection of questions that is regularly updated.
Experts who prepare or translate questions should be checked for conflicts of interest.
The agency should hire more permanent specialists and strengthen its security.
These are recommendations to improve the exams; the committee did not call for NEET to be scrapped.
A parliamentary committee called for a legislative framework making the National Testing Agency accountable to Parliament.
The National Testing Agency cancelled NEET (UG) 2026 on May 12 after allegations of a paper leak in the May 3 exam.
Recommendations include computer-based exams, secure government-run testing centres and reduced reliance on private centres.
The panel suggested exploring reasonable age and attempt limits, and a two-stage format for large exams such as NEET.
It also urged a broad question bank, expert conflict-of-interest checks, a blacklist of examination vendors and more permanent specialist staff.
- Who
- The Parliamentary Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports made recommendations concerning the National Testing Agency.
- What
- It proposed parliamentary accountability and operational reforms for the agency and major examinations, including NEET.
- When
- The report was reported on October 9; NEET (UG) 2026 was held on May 3 and cancelled on May 12.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- The committee said the cancellation amid paper-leak allegations showed that further improvements were needed to protect examination integrity and public trust.
Reform NEET
Scrap NEET
The future of NEET
Reform NEET
The committee proposed reforms to the NTA and NEET, including possible age and attempt limits and a two-stage format; it did not recommend scrapping the exam.
Scrap NEET
One article says opposition parties and some states, including Tamil Nadu, have called for NEET to be scrapped.
- Exam
- NEET (UG) 2026
- Exam date
- May 3
- Cancellation
- The National Testing Agency cancelled the exam on May 12 amid paper-leak allegations.
- Staffing
- 23 of 39 sanctioned positions were occupied; the committee described a 41% vacancy.
- Testing proposals
- Computer-based exams, secure government-operated centres and reduced reliance on private centres.
- Exam-format proposals
- Explore reasonable age and attempt limits and the feasibility of a two-stage format for large examinations.
- Integrity measures
- Build a broad, regularly updated question bank; vet experts for conflicts of interest; and create a registry of blacklisted examination vendors.
- Workforce proposal
- Hire permanent specialists in areas including examination security, psychometrics, digital infrastructure, data analytics and logistics.
Sources
NEET-UG Leak: RS Panel Seeks NTA Accountability to Parliament
Two-stage exam, age cap, CBT shift in NEET: Parliamentary panel calls for major changes
NEET UG paper leak: RS panel for mechanism to ensure NTA’s accountability to Parliament
