NEET Paper Leak Didn't Happen Through NTA System, Agency Chief Tells MPs

New Delhi: National Testing Agency (NTA) Director General Abhishek Singh on Thursday defended the entrance exams body before several members of Parliament and said that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) (UG) papers was not leaked through the NTA system, adding that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is investigating the matter.

What did the NTA Director General say?

The CBI has taken action against officials accused in the case, while NTA Director General Abhishek Singh told several members of Parliament on Thursday that the NEET-UG paper was not leaked from their system and that the CBI is investigating the matter.

Singh made this claim when questioned by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports. Several MPs asked NTA officials what steps the agency had taken to strengthen the exam system to prevent future paper leaks. The panel summoned top officials from the Ministry of Education, including Education Secretary Vineet Joshi.

Who were present in the meeting?

NTA officials, including Chairperson Pradeep Kumar Joshi and Director General Abhishek Singh, were present at the meeting. The officials gave a detailed presentation on the recommendations made in the Radhakrishnan report for reforms within the agency.

What did the NTA say?

According to the information, when the MPs asked how the NEET (UG) paper was leaked, Singh claimed that the paper was not leaked from his system.

The NTA DG further said that the CBI is looking into the matter.

Some opposition MPs also demanded that the investigation report be presented before the panel; however, some MPs from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) objected to this demand, saying the CBI is an independent body and should be given the freedom to do its work.

Singh also gave a detailed presentation on how the Radhakrishnan Report recommendations for reforms in the NTA will be implemented and said that about 70 per cent of the suggested short-term measures have already been implemented.

What steps are NTA taking?

NTA officials told the panel members that they are taking steps to ensure a foolproof examination system and that the agency is conducting a thorough review. They stated that trusted personnel should be involved in the paper setting and distribution system. NTA officials further stated that they are considering conducting the NEET exam through computer-based testing (CBT).

The MPs raised the issue of staff shortage and asked the NTA to fill the vacant positions to ensure smooth functioning of the agency and prevent any paper leak.

NTA officials told the committee members that the agency is facing a staff shortage of around 25 per cent and steps are being taken to fill all the vacancies.

What did the Radhakrishnan Committee suggest?

The Radhakrishnan Committee has proposed major changes to the examination system, including a uniform framework for undergraduate entrance tests, a gradual shift to computer-adaptive exams, and the creation of a public testing platform by the NTA.

As part of its long-term reforms, the expert panel has suggested moving away from the traditional pen-and-paper exam to a computer-based test. It has also recommended, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, introducing a multi-stage and multi-session exam with a limit on the number of attempts and age.