NEET cancellation exposed NTA gaps: Parliamentary panel

Following a leaked question paper for the NEET-UG 2026 examination, a Parliamentary panel has called for a fundamental reform of the NTA (National Testing Agency). Despite the implementation of biometric checks, jammers, and AI-monitored CCTVs, the cancellation of the exam exposes critical gaps in the agency's security protocols.

The 35-member standing committee on education, chaired by Congress MP Mukul Wasnik, recommends transitioning to a fully computer-based test format, establishing secure question banks, and investing the NTA's accumulated surplus into government-run test centers.

The panel emphasizes the urgency of procedural and institutional reforms, highlighting that the cancellation incident demonstrates the need for these changes. They propose an independent mechanism to audit examination security, with the mechanism reporting directly to the education ministry.

While acknowledging the NTA's extensive responsibilities - conducting exams for around 1.2 crore candidates annually - the committee questions whether security upgrades alone can adequately protect examinations. They stress that merely installing new surveillance measures is insufficient to restore public trust.

The panel notes that structural weaknesses within the NTA need to be addressed for confidence to be restored. They argue that rebuilding trust requires a two-way communication paradigm, suggesting that current interactions between the NTA and candidates are largely one-sided, confined to portals and notifications. The committee advocates for a more interactive and responsive approach to regain public confidence in the examination system.