The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education has expressed serious concerns over the functioning of the National Testing Agency, stating that the body “has not inspired much confidence” in recent years. The panel has recommended a return to pen-and-paper-based examinations for major national-level tests to restore credibility and security. The observations were made in a recent report reviewing exam conduct across 2024. The committee’s remarks come amid repeated allegations of paper leaks, exam postponements, and answer key errors that disrupted lakhs of candidates.
Parliamentary Panel Flags Repeated Failures in NTA-Managed Exams
The committee, chaired by Digvijaya Singh, reviewed 14 competitive examinations conducted by NTA in 2024, of which at least 5 were affected by major irregularities. These included postponements in high-stakes tests such as UGC-NET, CSIR-NET, and NEET-PG, along with the paper leak case in NEET-UG. It also flagged delays in result declarations for CUET UG and PG. Before outlining recommendations, the committee noted that repeated technical and administrative failures have weakened public trust in centralized computer-based testing. Key issues highlighted by the Parliamentary Committee:
- Multiple exam postponements across national-level tests
- Paper leak in NEET-UG, raising security concerns
- Delayed CUET results, affecting admission timelines
- Withdrawal of 12 questions in JEE Main 2025 January session due to answer key errors
Recommendation to Shift Back to Pen-and-Paper Examination Mode
The panel emphasized that traditional pen-and-paper examinations conducted by CBSE and UPSC have remained largely secure for decades. Based on this comparison, it recommended that high-stakes entrance examinations be shifted back to the offline mode wherever feasible. The committee further stated that if computer-based tests continue, they should be conducted only at government-controlled centres, completely avoiding private agencies. This move is expected to strengthen oversight, reduce third-party vulnerabilities, and enhance accountability at the operational level.
Financial Surplus and Capacity-Building at NTA
The committee also examined the financial functioning of the testing agency. Over the last 6 years, NTA collected around INR 3512.9 crore in examination fees, while approximately INR 3064.7 crore was spent on operations, generating a surplus of nearly INR 448 crore. An introductory review of financial management suggested that this surplus should be strategically reinvested. The committee recommended that these funds be used to:
- Build internal technical capacity
- Strengthen regulatory and monitoring frameworks
- Reduce dependence on private testing vendors
Impact on Students and National Entrance Examinations
Entrance examinations such as NEET, JEE Main, CUET, and UGC-NET act as gateways to academic and professional careers for lakhs of students each year. Even minor disruptions in these exams can affect admissions, counselling schedules, and academic calendars across the country. The committee concluded that restoring credibility in national examinations is critical for safeguarding student interests and maintaining public confidence in the education system.
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