Parliamentary Panel flags continuing irregularities in NTA exams despite reforms

Published 17 June 2026 · politics

A Parliamentary Standing Committee headed by Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has expressed concern over continuing irregularities in examinations conducted by the Testing Agency (NTA), despite

A Parliamentary Standing Committee headed by Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has expressed concern over continuing irregularities in examinations conducted by the Testing Agency (NTA), despite a series of reforms introduced following the 2024 examination controversy. In its latest report, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports noted that disruptions, cancellations and allegations of irregularities in national-level competitive examinations continue to surface, causing anxiety and uncertainty among lakhs of students and their families. Read Full Story The committee said that while the government had initiated corrective measures and accepted several recommendations of the high-level committee chaired by former ISRO chief K.

Radhakrishnan, the pace of implementation remained a matter of concern. CALLS FOR TIME-BOUND REFORM ROADMAP The panel urged the Ministry of Education to publicly release a clear and time-bound implementation plan for the recommendations made by the Radhakrishnan Committee. It said transparent timelines and periodic public disclosures would help build confidence among students and stakeholders regarding the reform process. The committee stressed that the NTA overhaul should be expedited and accompanied by measurable milestones to ensure accountability and effective monitoring. STUDENT ANXIETY OVER EXAM CANCELLATIONS The report highlighted that repeated exam disruptions and cancellations have had a significant psychological impact on students preparing for highly competitive entrance tests.

According to the panel, uncertainties surrounding examination schedules and allegations of malpractice have increased stress levels among candidates, making it imperative for authorities to establish robust and foolproof systems for conducting nationwide examinations. SEEKS GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY The committee reiterated the need for stronger safeguards, improved oversight mechanisms and wider stakeholder consultations while implementing examination reforms. Echoing Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's earlier observation that the NTA still requires significant improvement, the panel said examination integrity must remain the top priority and called for urgent action to strengthen the agency's functioning.

The committee concluded that national competitive examinations require reliable, transparent and foolproof protocols to restore public trust and ensure that students are not adversely affected by administrative lapses or irregularities. Ends