Get seed fund usage details from NTA in 60 days, panel tells Education Ministry
Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee seeks utilisation certificates for ₹10 crore of the ₹25 crore granted in 2017; members ask Ministry officials whether the lapse affected the conduct of examinations
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has instructed the Ministry of Education to collect pending utilisation certificates (UCs) for ₹10 crore from the National Testing Agency (NTA) within 60 days, according to a report. This directive comes following an examination of a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report that highlighted the issue of outstanding UCs related to a ₹25 crore seed funding given to the NTA when it was established in 2017.
The committee, led by senior Congress leader K.C. Venugopal, emphasized that utilisation certificates must be filed within 12 months of the financial year's close for non-recurring grants, as stipulated by government rules. The non-submission of these certificates could result in the exclusion of grantee institutions from future funding.
The NTA, an autonomous and self-financing body approved by the Union Cabinet in November 2017, received the initial financial assistance when it was created. The CAG report revealed that UCs worth ₹10 crore from the 2018-19 financial year are still pending. During the committee's examination, officials from the Finance and Education Ministries were present, and Members questioned them about the potential impact on examination-related activities.
They inquired whether exam infrastructure, evaluation processes, security arrangements, manpower deployment, testing centers, or other essential services had faced delays, compromises, or adverse effects. Additionally, Members sought assurances from the Ministry regarding safeguards to prevent financial management deficiencies from compromising the fairness, reliability, transparency, or timeliness of examinations, which could affect students' academic and career prospects.
The Education Ministry assured the PAC that the NTA would submit the required certificates within the stipulated timeframe. The Ministry reported an income of ₹504.16 crore and expenditure of ₹440.20 crore in 2019-20, and ₹515.16 crore and ₹436.25 crore in 2020-21 and 2021-22, respectively. The CAG report also pointed out a broader issue across government departments, noting that nearly 34,000 utilisation certificates, amounting to ₹54,282 crore, remained outstanding as of March 31 of the previous year across 15 Ministries and departments.
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