A Parliamentary Standing Committee has delivered a sharp rebuke to the National Testing Agency (NTA) over recurring failures in the conduct of major national-level entrance examinations. The panel has strongly recommended that key competitive exams should revert to the traditional pen-and-paper mode until digital testing systems are made fully secure and reliable. The observations were made after a detailed review of the 2024 examination cycle. The committee flagged serious disruptions in examinations such as NEET-UG, UGC-NET, CSIR-NET, CUET and JEE, stating that repeated technical and administrative failures have severely impacted the credibility of the testing system and shaken student confidence across the country.
Multiple National Exams Hit by Cancellations, Delays and Technical Failures
In its findings, the parliamentary panel noted that out of fourteen national-level examinations conducted by NTA in 2024, at least five faced major issues. These included last-minute cancellations, postponements, delays in answer key releases, and instances of suspected paper leaks. Such incidents triggered widespread anxiety among candidates and parents, with several examinations witnessing protests and legal scrutiny. The committee observed that high-stakes examinations with participation running into lakhs cannot afford repeated technological breakdowns. Each disruption, it noted, not only affects academic timelines but also causes emotional distress and financial strain for aspirants who prepare for years for these tests.
Heavy Dependence on Private Vendors Draws Sharp Criticism
A major concern raised in the report relates to NTA’s continued reliance on private vendors for critical exam operations such as software management, test centre operations, and result processing. This dependence continues despite the agency generating a financial surplus of approximately rupees four hundred forty-eight crore over the last six years. According to the panel, this surplus should have been utilised to strengthen in-house technological capacity, cybersecurity systems, and manpower training. Instead, outsourcing of sensitive operations has persisted, increasing vulnerability during high-volume testing. The committee underlined that exam security and data integrity cannot be compromised through excessive outsourcing, especially when public funds and student futures are involved.
Recommendation to Shift Back to Offline Exams
Taking note of the recurring lapses, the parliamentary panel has formally recommended a phased return to pen-and-paper examinations for major entrance tests. It stated that offline exams currently offer greater transparency, easier supervision, and lower risk of large-scale technical failure when compared to digital formats under existing infrastructure conditions. The committee further added that until computer-based systems are substantially upgraded and made foolproof, offline mode should remain the safer option for examinations with high participation.
Computer-Based Tests Only at Government Centres: Panel’s Suggestion
While recommending offline exams for most major tests, the panel did allow limited continuation of computer-based exams under stricter conditions. It suggested that, where unavoidable, digital examinations should be conducted only at government-run centres with:
- Standardised infrastructure
- Tighter physical and digital security
- Real-time monitoring systems
- Direct oversight by government authorities
This, the panel noted, would significantly reduce risks associated with third-party vendors and inconsistent private testing centres.
Call for Complete Overhaul of NTA’s Examination Systems
The committee concluded that the recurring failures point to systemic weaknesses in exam preparedness, vendor management, and result-processing mechanisms. It stressed the need for a comprehensive overhaul of NTA’s operational framework to restore public trust. According to the panel, transparent processes, robust audit mechanisms, and stricter accountability norms must be put in place to ensure that future examination cycles are conducted without disruption. The report clearly states that student confidence in national testing systems is eroding, and immediate corrective measures are essential to safeguard the credibility of India’s competitive examination ecosystem. With lakhs of aspirants dependent on NTA-conducted exams every year for admission to medical, engineering, and central universities, the committee’s recommendations are expected to trigger serious policy-level discussions on the future of digital examinations in India.
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