NEET-UG 2026: Parliament panel grills NTA; agency maintains paper not leaked through system

New Delhi: Several Members of Parliament questioned senior National Testing Agency (NTA) officials on Thursday over allegations of a NEET-UG paper leak, with the agency’s Director General telling the panel that the question paper was not leaked through their system, sources said.

During a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, MPs raised concerns about the steps taken to strengthen the examination process and prevent future paper leaks. The committee had summoned senior officials from the education ministry, including Education Secretary Vineet Joshi.

NTA Chairperson Pradeep Kumar Joshi and Director General Abhishek Singh made a detailed presentation on the Radhakrishnan Committee report and related reform measures.

According to sources, when MPs asked how the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) paper was leaked, Singh said it was not leaked through their system. Several MPs then questioned how the breach occurred and why a cancellation and retest were required.

CBI probe cited, MPs raise questions on system safeguards

Sources said the NTA Director General stated that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is investigating the matter.

Some opposition MPs reportedly sought that the investigation report be placed before the panel, while some ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members objected, stating that the CBI is an independent agency and should be allowed to complete its probe.

The NTA officials also informed the panel that around 70 per cent of short-term recommendations from the Radhakrishnan Report on reforms have been implemented.

They said work is underway to develop a more secure examination system, with a comprehensive review in progress. They added that credible personnel should be involved in paper-setting and distribution processes.

The agency is also considering conducting NEET through a computer-based testing (CBT) platform in future.

MPs are learnt to have raised concerns over staff shortages and vacancies within the NTA. Sources said the agency currently faces a manpower shortage of around 25 per cent, with steps being taken to fill posts to address potential vulnerabilities.

The NTA also outlined standard operating procedures (SOPs) and checklists for breach management in both paper-and-pencil and CBT formats, which have been circulated to stakeholders. Coordination with state and district administrations for high-stakes examinations and monitoring of malpractice on social media platforms were also discussed.

Exam details, reforms roadmap and cancellation timeline

The NTA informed the committee that NEET (UG) 2026 was conducted on May 3 at 5,432 centres across 565 cities, including 14 cities abroad. The exam was held in 13 languages, with more than 22.7 lakh candidates registered and over 22.05 lakh appearing.

The Radhakrishnan Committee has recommended harmonisation and unification of undergraduate entrance examinations, gradual movement towards computer-adaptive testing, and the creation of a public test platform and infrastructure under NTA.

Long-term proposals include a shift from pen-and-paper to computer-based testing, introduction of multi-session and multi-stage exams, and setting limits on attempts and age. These measures are to be implemented in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The NTA also outlined plans for cloud-based infrastructure, integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain for secure monitoring, and reduction of dependence on external test delivery agencies by developing in-house examination software. Additional measures include advanced cryptographic systems, network security upgrades, and adoption of global best practices, including ETS methodology.

On May 7, the agency received inputs regarding alleged malpractice four days after the exam. These were escalated to central agencies on the morning of May 8 for verification and action.

Based on inputs examined in coordination with central agencies and findings from law enforcement agencies, a decision was taken to cancel NEET-UG 2026 and re-conduct the examination on June 21.