How India Plans to Combat Exam Paper Leaks: Insights from a Parliamentary Report

A recent report from a Parliamentary committee outlines innovative strategies to combat exam paper leaks in India. Key recommendations include investing in question banks and utilizing experts from top educational institutions for question development. The report comes in response to controversies surrounding the NEET exam and aims to enhance the integrity of the examination process. With the transition to a computer-based testing format, the committee emphasizes the need for updated practices to ensure accessibility for all students. Read on to learn more about these significant reforms.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 9, 2026, 20:35 IST

New Strategies Proposed to Prevent Exam Paper Leaks

New Delhi: A Parliamentary committee has proposed several measures to tackle the issue of exam paper leaks, including investing in question banks and utilizing experts from prestigious institutions like IITs, IIMs, and AIIMS for question development.

The report, presented by the department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, led by Rajya Sabha MP Mukul Wasnik, focuses on reforms for the National Testing Agency (NTA).

This report comes in the wake of the NEET paper leak controversy, which sparked widespread protests among students and resulted in the resignation of the former Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan.

The committee emphasized that a robust investment in question banks is essential for long-term protection against such leaks.

"The frequent reuse of question sets or the practice of creating new papers each year poses a threat to the examination's integrity. Therefore, the NTA should prioritize building a comprehensive, diverse, and regularly updated question bank that can be utilized without prior knowledge by the question-setters," the report stated.

Starting next year, the NEET-UG medical entrance exam will transition to a computer-based test (CBT) format, moving away from traditional pen-and-paper methods.

"With the CBT format, there is no need to print and transport question papers to exam centers, allowing for the final papers to be prepared closer to the exam date using digital tools and vetted by experts," the report noted.

The committee also highlighted the importance of strict quarantine measures for those involved in final paper vetting until the exam concludes.

"The NTA should engage reputable experts from top educational institutions to develop its question banks and ensure proper translation," it added.

Additionally, the NTA must implement a system to verify the integrity of these experts to avoid conflicts of interest, such as connections to private coaching centers or family members taking the exam.

Addressing concerns about the accessibility of CBT for students from remote and marginalized backgrounds, the committee recommended a national testing strategy to enhance digital accessibility during this transition.