Parliamentary Committee Calls for Urgent Reforms in National Testing Agency Amid Examination Irregularities

Concerns Raised Over Examination Irregularities

New Delhi: A parliamentary committee has voiced its concerns regarding ongoing irregularities in examinations, despite the government's efforts to address these issues. The committee has urged the Ministry of Education to create a detailed timeline for implementing the reforms proposed by a high-level panel.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, led by Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh, submitted its 381st action taken report concerning the recommendations from the 364th report on Demands for Grants (2025-26) related to higher education to Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan on Tuesday.

The committee supported Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's acknowledgment on June 16, 2024, that significant improvements are necessary within the National Testing Agency (NTA). It has recommended that the NTA hasten the implementation of the Radhakrishnan Committee's suggestions.

Furthermore, the committee advised that the department and the NTA engage in broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders to establish a protocol for the secure administration of national competitive examinations, as noted in the report.

"The Committee acknowledges the ministry's initiatives, including the formation of a high-powered steering committee led by K Radhakrishnan to oversee the implementation of the high-level committee's recommendations.

However, despite these efforts, examination irregularities persist, resulting in the cancellation of tests and causing significant distress among students," the report stated.

"The Committee also urges the higher education department to publish a timely implementation roadmap for the HLCE recommendations as soon as possible," it added.

The HLCE was established by the Ministry of Education under the leadership of K Radhakrishnan, a former ISRO chairman, to implement essential systemic reforms in national competitive examinations conducted by the NTA.

The parliamentary panel observed that several companies involved in paper setting, administration, and evaluation have been blacklisted by certain organizations or state governments, yet they continue to secure contracts from other states or entities.

"Therefore, the Committee recommends that the department compile a comprehensive list of blacklisted firms to enhance transparency in this matter," the report indicated.

In its response, the higher education department clarified that the core functions of the NTA, including paper setting and evaluation, are not outsourced.

"The NTA keeps records of penalized vendors, including terminations, blacklisting, and contract cessations, and does not work with vendors that have been blacklisted by the NTA.

The procurement process followed by the NTA includes mandatory self-disclosure clauses regarding any blacklisting by government agencies," it stated.

The committee also addressed the financial aspects of the NTA, reiterating its recommendation that the agency's surplus funds be utilized to enhance its capabilities.

"The Committee noted that the NTA generated approximately Rs 3,512.98 crore while spending Rs 3,064.77 crore on examinations, resulting in a surplus of Rs 448 crore over the past six years.

It recommends that this surplus be allocated to strengthen the agency's ability to conduct tests independently or to enhance regulatory and monitoring capabilities for its vendors," the report mentioned.

In response to these recommendations, the higher education department stated that the NTA operates as a self-sustaining organization without government funding.

"At the start of each year, the NTA requires funds for booking centers, compensating experts, software, and security, among other expenses. The income and expenditure trends indicate that, on average, Rs 74.5 crore remains each year after covering all costs.

The unspent income from a financial year is used for preparatory activities for the subsequent year. However, any surplus after budgeting for next year's activities can be appropriately utilized," it added.