What Did MPs Discover About the NEET-UG Paper Leak? Insights from the Parliamentary Committee Meeting

Parliamentary Committee Interrogates NTA Officials

In New Delhi, members of Parliament scrutinized senior officials from the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Thursday. The agency's director general asserted that the NEET-UG exam paper was not compromised through their systems, and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently investigating the incident.

During a session of the Parliamentary Standing Committee focused on Education, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports, MPs pressed NTA representatives about the measures being implemented to enhance the examination framework and prevent future leaks.

The committee summoned key officials from the education ministry, including Education Secretary Vineet Joshi. NTA officials, such as Chairperson Pradeep Kumar Joshi and Director General Abhishek Singh, provided a comprehensive overview of the Radhakrishnan Report's recommendations for reforming the agency.

In response to inquiries regarding the leak of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) paper, Singh maintained that it did not occur through their systems.

This prompted further questioning from MPs about the source of the leak and the necessity for a retest.

The NTA DG could not provide a satisfactory answer, reiterating that the CBI is handling the investigation.

Some opposition members insisted that the committee should receive the investigation report, while others from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) countered, emphasizing the CBI's independence and the need to allow it to conduct its work.

Singh elaborated on the implementation of the Radhakrishnan Report's recommendations, noting that approximately 70% of the suggested short-term measures have already been enacted.

NTA officials assured the committee that efforts are underway to develop a secure examination system and that a thorough review is in progress. They also highlighted the importance of involving credible individuals in the paper-setting and distribution processes.

The possibility of administering the NEET via a computer-based testing (CBT) platform is under consideration for future examinations.

Concerns were raised by MPs regarding staff shortages within the NTA, with a reported 25% vacancy rate. The agency is taking systematic steps to address these gaps to prevent any potential leaks.

Following the meeting, Congress MP and committee chair Digvijaya Singh stated, "Discussions within the parliamentary committee are confidential, and we cannot disclose details." He added that the meeting was productive, with members voicing their concerns about the NEET paper leak.

Earlier, NTA officials outlined the measures taken by the agency and the government to mitigate breaches and malpractices. They mentioned that detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs) and checklists for breach management in both PPT and CBT formats have been distributed to stakeholders, and collaborations with local administrations for overseeing high-stakes exams are actively monitored on social media.

The NEET (UG) 2026 was conducted on May 3 across 5,432 centers in 565 cities, including 14 international locations. The exam was available in 13 languages, with over 22.7 lakh candidates registered and more than 22.05 lakh participating.

The medical entrance examination was recently annulled due to allegations of a paper leak, with a retest scheduled for June 21.