Parliamentary Committee Calls for Urgent Reforms in National Testing Agency
Concerns Over Examination Irregularities
File image of CUET-UG students waiting outside the exam centres due to technical glitch. (Photo: @vidhisharmx/X)
New Delhi, June 17: A parliamentary committee has raised alarms regarding persistent examination irregularities in India, despite various government measures. The committee has urged the Ministry of Education to create a detailed timeline for implementing the reforms suggested for the National Testing Agency (NTA).
In its 381st Action Taken Report submitted to Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan, the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, led by Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh, highlighted ongoing issues with examination processes that have resulted in test cancellations and heightened stress among students.
Reflecting on earlier statements made by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the committee emphasized the necessity for significant reforms within the NTA and called for the prompt execution of recommendations from a high-level panel chaired by former ISRO chief K. Radhakrishnan.
The committee also advocated for broader consultations with stakeholders to establish a reliable protocol for conducting competitive examinations nationwide and proposed the creation of a comprehensive database to track blacklisted examination-related firms.
Additionally, the panel suggested that the NTA should utilize its surplus funds to enhance its internal capabilities and improve monitoring systems.
The report indicated that the agency has generated approximately Rs 448 crore in surplus over the past six years from conducting examinations.
Concerns were also raised regarding the Common University Entrance Test (CUET), particularly its effectiveness for admissions in humanities and social sciences. The committee noted that the multiple-choice question (MCQ) format may not effectively evaluate independent and analytical thinking, which are crucial for these fields.
It recommended a thorough review of the quality of question papers and the overall structure of CUET, suggesting that the examination should align more closely with the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020.
The committee pointed out that a single entrance exam might not adequately meet the specific admission criteria of institutions like Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), which has legal mandates concerning socio-economic and regional diversity.
In response to the committee's findings, the government acknowledged the recommendations and stated that the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the NTA have been appropriately informed.
It was noted that CUET has rapidly become India's second-largest examination within two years, drawing over 13.5 lakh applicants in 2025, with several adjustments made to improve the test based on experiences from its initial iterations.
The parliamentary committee indicated that it would continue discussions on the future design and execution of CUET, stressing the importance of stronger safeguards and systemic reforms within the examination framework of the country.